Obituary of Kenneth E. Devory

Kenneth E. Devory, 84, of Jackson passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 5, 2024 at home with his wife Jo Ann and son Kenneth by his side.  Ken was born and raised in Passaic.  He and his wife began their life together in Rockaway, then moved to Bridgewater to raise their two sons, Kenneth and David,  where they lived for 33 years.  After a short time in Tinton Falls, Ken and Jo Ann settled at Four Seasons at  Metedeconk Lakes (FSML) in Jackson in 2006. 

 After graduating from high school, at 18 years old, he served his country proudly by joining the United States Army Reserve Infantry Training Program. This involved six months of active duty, two at Fort Dix, NJ for Basic training and four at Fort Jackson, SC for Advanced Infantry Training. In addition the program included five years of inactive duty, with weekly meetings at the National Guard Armory and two weeks of active duty each summer. After his active duty he saved for college, working as a lab technician at Hoffman La Roche on experimental anti-cancer drugs. Ken attended Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) from which he earned two Bachelor's Degrees, one in Accounting and one in Mechanical Engineering, and where he also met Jo Ann. Subsequently, he earned his MBA, also from FDU.

Ken retired as a senior systems analyst at Capgemini Consulting, after a long career working at: Ethicon in Bridgewater (a J&J Company), Super Markets General (implementing the first bar code check out scanners at Pathmark food stores), and later consulting for various major telecommunications companies as the owner of DKE Consulting. 

A true renaissance man, he had an appreciation for art, a thirst for travel, an admiration for nature and was a man of faith.  Along with his wife of 59 years, Jo Ann, they traveled by car up and down the east coast, trekked throughout Europe, made trips to Hawaii and Alaska, and visited many National Parks.  Ken relished his time in a stream, river, pond or lake trout fishing, kayaking, or canoeing.  He was a member of Trout Unlimited for over fifty years.  Ken was instrumental in the formation of Trout in the Classroom, introducing students throughout Sommerset, Monmouth and Ocean Counties, to raise fish, from egg to release.  He even passed along his plethora of fishing gear to his grand nephew, John who is continuing his journey as an angler. 

Ken was a member of Broadway Rhythm, the FSML Production company, for which  he was the primary set designer, planner, and master carpenter.  He created most of the scenery and props for the Broadway Rhythm productions that included musicals  from Broadway to the Beatles.

In addition to all of his achievements and activities, Ken was a kind,  thoughtful, compassionate person, a   devoted husband, beloved father, and adoring Grandpa.

Ken is survived by his wife, Jo Ann (nee Masucci) Devory; sons, Kenneth E. Devory, Jr., and his partner Fiona McCoy, and David Devory, and his wife Jean-Marie; grandchildren, Daniel, Sydney, and twins Alexandra and Madison; his sister-in-law, Lucia Certo; and Daniel’s mother, Nohemi Perez and her husband, Pepe and their children, Alexander and Jonathan Melgarejo.

A visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Friday, May 10, 2024 from 8:30 AM until the procession to his 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. Entombment will follow in Hollywood Memorial Park, 1500 Stuyvesant Avenue, Union.  For those who desire, memorial contributions may be made to Fulfill of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, 3300 Route 66, Neptune, NJ 07753 or HERE . For information, directions or condolence to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.