A fierce, bright light now extinguished
Kenneth Amyot Rae, 83 years, died in Owen Sound on January 30, 2023 of Vascular Dementia.
Ken was born July 25, 1939 to Jack and Margaret (Amyot) in Windsor, Ontario. After the birth of sister Alison, they made Ottawa home. Accelerated by his intellectual curiosity, Ken graduated from Lisgar Collegiate and Carleton University before joining the Queen's Law School class of 1964. At Queen's he met and married Patricia Anne Lamb, his intellectual equal and sparring partner. Daughters Alison and Katherine soon followed. Ken's promotion to Crown Attorney for Grey County proved pivotal, completely fusing his combative personality with a meaningful profession. He was a brilliant prosecutor. He gracefully, meticulously used language to persuade, mock, and decimate opponents. With victims of violence he was renowned for his compassion. He thrived in this role for nearly three decades. Around the deaths of Katherine (1999) and Patricia (2000) Ken retired. Dark days were eventually brightened by history books, his BMW motorcycle, Single Malts and heated conversations with friends. He is remembered as an irreverent, charismatic, wickedly funny, adoring Grandfather. Ken is survived by daughter Alison and Peter; grandchildren Jack, Matthew and Sophie Wiggan; sister Alison Proos and much loved nieces and nephews and Great nieces and nephews; brothers in law Andrew and John Lamb and their dear sons and partners.
While death means release from a mutinous mind, rooms are now quiet without his commanding voice. After cremation , we plan to honour Ken at his stone house in the Spring. Donations to the Owen Sound Hospital Foundation are welcome.