Kenneth "Ken" Melville Meyer, 68

Kenneth "Ken" Melville Meyer passed away Tuesday, May 6, 2014, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Ken was born Christmas day, December 25, 1945, in Huntington, New York. He grew up in North Port, N.Y., and enjoyed spending time at his parent's vacation home in Loon Lake, N.Y., and the surrounding area including Lake Champlain and Lake Placid.

Ken served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, flying A4, F4 and F16 fighter jets in electronic warfare squadron VAQ-33. While stationed at Norfolk Naval Air Station, he resided in Virginia Beach, Va., where he was involved in gymnastic exhibitions, water skiing demonstrations, diving explorations, and diving on the Andrea Doria salvage expedition.

After an honorable discharge, Ken attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., earning a bachelor's degree in business. He spent 20 years as owner of a log home company building homes around the country and in the Seven Lakes region of Japan.

Ken moved from North Carolina to Truckee, Calif., in 1990. He was diagnosed with liver cancer shortly afterward, and was told he had six months to live. He followed a healthy diet and lifestyle, and was cancer free within a year! After recovering from cancer, Ken started a spa and hot tub repair business in Truckee and Lake Tahoe, and then in North Idaho where he gained the reputation of never meeting a hot tub he couldn't fix!

Ken served his community as president of the Truckee Optimist Club, Civil Air Patrol and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Between Christmas and New Year's 2004, Ken met the love of his life, Christine Lloyd, who he quickly nicknamed 'Christy." They moved to North Idaho and bought a house in Hayden, Idaho, in February 2006. Ken and Christy loved to ski together, watch old movies, bike ride, camp, travel in their motor coach, and share every moment together.

Ken was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010, and fought hard to vanquish the invader. His life was cut short on May 6, as the return of his liver cancer overwhelmed our efforts to continue his life.

Ken is survived by his loving wife, Christina Lloyd; his granddaughter by marriage, Annabelle Wills-Valdez, and his sister, Claire Algerio, and her children.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 17, at His Place Church in Post Falls, Idaho. In lieu of flowers, Christy is requesting donations to either the North Idaho Hospice House, Civil Air Patrol, Veterans of Foreign Wars, or the Optimist Club. Please visit Ken’s online memorial, and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.