PEORIA -- Yesterday's moving memorial service for Les Kenyon, described as a warrior for historic preservation, demonstrated the impact of a person of high quality on a city.
Kenyon, 88, died on Jan. 13, after a lifetime of dedication to historic preservation in Peoria and the region.
Here are two Peoria Journal Star articles about him, and his obituary.
http://blogs.pjstar.com/wordonweb/2011/01/14/a-passionate-preservationist/ with the great photo by Dave Zalaznik.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pjstar/obituary.aspx?n=leslie-kenyon&pid=147821929
Kenyon's friends and admirers filled the sanctuary at the Universalist/Unitarian Church, a building he designed, to praise and remember him.
The ceremony itself was beautifully done, moving, without sermon, prayer or superstition, but filled with admiration for Kenyon and his lifetime of work and relationships.
A few fascinating photos completed the event, including one from 1965 where Les greeted Lady Bird Johnson on her visit to Peoria. He's handing her yellow roses. Beautification was one of her causes as First Lady.
Afterward a lovely reception with delicious food allowed everyone to socialize and remember Les even more. No long reception lines, just tables where people could sit and talk, and move about after filling plates from ample buffet tables. It was a wonderful event. Les would have approved.
Here is an audio recording of the stories and memories from his friends.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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