Born August 23, 1951, in Detroit, Michigan; died June 15, 2009, in Seattle, Washington, at the age of 57. Ken moved to Seattle in 1973 after graduating summa cum laude from the University of Michigan School of Engineering. After spending a few years as an aeronautical engineer with the Boeing Commercial Airplane Company, he decided to return to school to pursue his law degree. Ken graduated from the University of Washington School of Law as a member of the prestigious Order of the Coif in 1979 before beginning his 29-year-long career with the Northwest law firm of Williams Kastner. In 2005, Ken was chosen as a Top Lawyer in Product Liability by Seattle Magazine. Outside of work, Ken loved to fish and play sports.
He is survived by his loving wife Peggy; his three children, Keegan, Kelsey, and Lauren; his mother, Virginia of Fraser, Michigan; his two sisters, Marcia (Jim) of Washington, Michigan, and Roberta (Ken) of Sterling Heights, Michigan; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Emil Petty. Funeral Mass will be held Friday, June 19, 2009, at 11 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Edmonds, 630 7th Avenue North. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please donate to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in memory of Ken online at www.firstgiving.com/kenpetty. Also, please sign the online memorial at www.becksfuneralhome.com.