Obituary: Kenn Mayberry swung into second career as assistant golf pro

By Robert D. Dávila - bdavila@sacbee.com

Published 12:00 am PDT Saturday, July 5, 2008
Story appeared in METRO section, Page B4

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Kenn Mayberry wasn't ready to retire at age 50 when the Sacramento Army Depot closed in 1995, so he hit the golf course.

He started a second career in a sport he had played since growing up in Tahoe Park.

He worked at Bartley Cavanaugh Golf Course before spending the last 12 years as a PGA Class A assistant pro at El Macero Country Club.

"He felt very lucky to be able to do something most people don't get a chance to do," said his son, Tim. "He transitioned to a second career, and it was one that he really loved."

Mr. Mayberry, 63, died of a heart attack June 24 at his Sacramento home.

A gregarious man, he was a popular ambassador for golf in the community, his family and friends said.

He sold clubs, gave lessons and directed youth and senior programs at El Macero.

He helped coach the Capital Christian High School team, participated in tournaments and was a regular player at Bing Maloney, Haggin Oaks, William Land and other courses.

A low-handicap player, he loved the competition and camaraderie of golf and other activities with a wide group of close, longtime friends.

He played Saturday afternoon "skins" games with regular buddies at El Macero and swapped jokes over poker and pinochle games.

He attended annual reunions of Army Depot colleagues with whom he played softball for more than 20 years.

"Kenn was an excellent player," said Tom Dyer, a former club pro who hired him at El Macero. "In our group of guys who played, he was the one we always gave a hard time."

Kenneth Wayne Mayberry was born in 1944 in Sacramento.

His father, George, retired as a Sacramento County sheriff's detective inspector, and his mother, Alice, was a homemaker.

He graduated from Hiram Johnson High School and attended Sacramento City College.

He was drafted by the Army and served two years with the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam. He was awarded the Purple Heart medal and discharged in 1967.

He married Lane Buckman in 1968, reared two children and spent more than 25 years as an electronics technician at the Army Depot.

Mr. Mayberry spent a lot of time with his grandchildren baby-sitting, cheering their soccer games and teaching them golf, his son said.

He had a special interest in coaching junior golfers and led the summer youth program at El Macero Country Club.

"He enjoyed being a teacher," Tim Mayberry said. "He loved how young golfers soaked it up, and how they came alive when they succeeded."

About the writer:

Call The Bee's Robert D. Dávila, (916) 321-1077. Bee researcher Jason Coughran contributed to this report.

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Obituary: Kenn Mayberry swung into second career as assistant golf pro

By Robert D. Dávila - bdavila@sacbee.com

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