Kenneth L. Whitsett

Ken went home to be with his Lord and Savior on October 9, 2021 at the age of 86. He was born in Possum Trot, Tennessee on April 5, 1935. He grew up in Caney Spring, Tennessee and graduated from Forrest High School, Chapel Hill, Tennessee. Ken attended Bowling Green Business University in Kentucky where he met his wife of 60 years, "Boots" Busbee Whitsett. After living in Nashville for two years, they returned to Ocala where Ken helped build and was president of the family business, H.A. Busbee Company. They later started their own businesses, K.W.I. and Party Time Rentals, which they later sold. He also served in the U.S. Army. Ken served on the Board of Directors of Barnett Bank, and was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Ocala. He was the inventor and builder of their "Super Stacker" pancake machine used for their annual fundraising pancake day. He had been involved with the Wyomina Park Elementary PTA, First Baptist Church, along with their bus ministry, and the First United Methodist Church. His weekly highlights were his lunches with his many friends, his Thursday men's group, Friday's Kiwanis meeting, United Methodist Church Sunday School, and spending time with his special friend, Annie Hampton. He loved and adored his family, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He will be sorely missed by his family and many friends. He is preceded in death by his wife, "Boots" Whitsett. He is survived by his two daughters, Donna Counts Wilson (John), and Sandy Counts (Michael), five grandchildren, Toby Counts (Brianne), Sean Counts (Sarah), Katy Counts Owen (Cooper), Candace Counts Hermann (Ryan), Todd Counts (Susannah), and ten great grandchildren. Funeral services will be private, but the public is invited to a gathering of family and friends on Thursday, October 21 st in the court yard of the First United Methodist Church, 1123 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala, FL. from 5 to 7 PM. In lieu of flowers and should you wish to honor Ken's life, a contribution may be made to Camp Kiwanis, c/o The Kiwanis Club of Ocala, P.O. Box 682, Ocala, FL 34478-0682.