Kenneth Elton Kesey (1935 - 2001)

Born 17 Sep 1935 in La Junta, Otero, Colorado, USA

Ancestors

Died 10 Nov 2001 at age 66 in Eugene, Lane, Oregon

Biography

Ken Kesey is Notable.

Kesey experimented with LSD before it was illegal, in a program which was later revealed to be run by the CIA, through the Veterans Administration hospital at Menlo Park, CA. He also worked at that same hospital during the same time period. These experiences inspired his first successful novel, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." The movie based on the novel won five major Oscars: Best Actor ( Jack Nicholson), Best Actress ( Louise Fletcher), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Picture and Best Director. It also featured Scatman Crothers. His next novel "Sometimes a Great Notion" was also made into a movie, this time nominated for two Oscars.

He continued to use LSD as well as promote its use by others, including at parties called Acid Tests. A cross-country trip in a psychedelic bus named Furthur with a group known as the Merry Pranksters is chronicled by Tom Wolfe in his book "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test." The bus was driven by Neal Cassady. The LSD was supplied by Owsley Stanley.

Kesey competed as a wrestler in college. According to Wikipedia, his winning percentage ranks in the top ten of Oregon competitors to this day.

Cause of death was complications from surgery for liver cancer.

His 5th GGF Joshua Hightower fought in the Revolutionary War.

Sources

1. Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 17 March 2021), memorial page for Ken Kesey (17 Sep 1935–10 Nov 2001), Find A Grave: Memorial #5965109, citing Kesey Family Farm Cemetery, Eugene, Lane County, Oregon, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave .
2. Wikipedia
3. IMDB
4. Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission
5. biography.com
6. "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J5D8-WY4 : 20 May 2014), Ken E Kesey, 10 Nov 2001; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
7. "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VR6G-T9K : 13 March 2018), Ken Elton Keasey in household of Fred Keasey, Ward 1, La Junta, Election Precinct 31, Otero, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 45-10, sheet 9A, line 17, family 184, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 473.
8. 1950 Census: "United States 1950 Census"
   citing Page: 30; Line: 26; Digital film/folder number: 108804919; Image number: 31
   FamilySearch Record: 6XVR-MZCP (accessed 1 March 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QHN-PQH7-T8JM
   Ken Kesey (14), single son, Helper, in household of Fred A Kesey (38) in Armitage, Lane, Oregon, United States. Born in Colorado.
9. https://www.historycolorado.org/story/articles-print/2021/06/28/one-flew-west
10. Death: "Oregon Death Index, 1971-2008"
    citing Digital film/folder number: 106851086; Image number: 174
    FamilySearch Record: C2Q6-PC3Z (accessed 1 March 2024)
    FamilySearch Image: 3QHV-J3DV-HCZN
    Ken Elton Kesey death 10 Nov 2001, spouse of Faye, in Lane, Oregon, United States.
11. Marriage: "Oregon, U.S., State Marriages, 1906-1971"
    Oregon State Archives; Salem, Oregon; Oregon, Marriage Records, 1906-1910, 1946-1966
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61677 #139691 (accessed 1 March 2024)
    Ken Elton Kesey (20) marriage to Norma Faye Haxby on 20 May 1956 in Eugene, Lane, Oregon, USA.