I worked with Floyd, constructing the Manufacturing plant Filtertek in the town of Patillas Puerto Rico from 1987 to 1989. I really enjoyed working with him. He made the workday relaxing for the project team. My condolences.
David Heredia

Happy birthday AE. We miss you but we're giving them hell.

Take it easy

I miss you Old Floyd. The sane world is too quite without you.

Sad day, you will be forever missed but always in my heart. Thanks for all the Good memories. Patty.

Happy Birthday and a belated Father’s Day, Old Floyd. Will be thinking of you today. 

Happy Father's Day, and Happy Birthday. I think of you often, but days, where there's a celebration, it hurts even more.

Take it easy, lol

I just took another peek at the photos here..., many of which I hadn't seen before. I love looking at all of Old Floyd's memories. He certainly touched a lot of people's lives!

I had the honor to work with Floyd on a job in Puerto Rico. He was a great teacher, without trying. I learned a lot from observing his style. He never recommend anything he didn’t practice. My condolence to the family.

Hello all, I worked with Floyd in Puerto Rico in the 1980s. I was a young man and "McGurk" was the Project manager tasked with building a manufacturing plant for the company I worked for. Filtertek de Puerto Rico.
Floyd was a one-off. A mentor to me and I still think of him often even though I have lost touch with him and the family for many years.
RIP Floyd. See ya on the other side.
Dave Frazier

It's hard to believe this giant of a man, known to those who loved him as "Old Floyd", has been gone one whole year. I think about him often and love to walk down memory lane of all the great times the Kester family shared with Floyd and his family. He made such an impact on so many young folks. Your good deeds and influences live on!! RIP.

Missing you. Seems you have been gone years (one year today?). You are in my heart as always. 

I met Floyd for the first time while we were both working for the Army Corp of Engineers at USMA, West Point. My wife Carolyn worked in his office and it was through her I was introduced to Floyd. Being close in age and both veterans we hit if off from our first day. I found his sense of humor and smile to be contagious and enjoyed our conversations about our past lives. He was interesting, vibrant, philosophical and most of all humorous. We had more than our fair share of laughs. Beneath it all, Floyd was a good man who could be a trusted & loyal friend. It sadden me to learn of his passing as I write thinking about him. As Floyd passes through Heavens Gate I am sure he will find many friends along with Fair Winds And Following Seas. Rest easy my friend.

I cherish many fond memories of four years with Floyd's son Marshall on Academic Team (quiz bowl) while in high school. Floyd and Jackie accompanied us on many of those adventures all over the great state of South Carolina in either their Ford F-250 or Chevy Suburban. Floyd was a bastion of discipline and wisdom but also of good humor.

Thank you, Floyd, for your military service in defense of freedom and for your influence on Marshall, Stewart, and me. I know that it was through your love and guidance that your sons became good men, exemplary soldiers, and even better friends to me and so many others. Every time I see an old F-250 or Suburban, I will think of you. Rest easy, good sir.

"Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky;
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

Fading light, dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
From afar, drawing nigh, falls the night.

Thanks and praise, for our days,
'Neath the sun, 'neath the stars, neath the sky;
As we go, this we know, God is nigh. . . .

While the light fades from sight,
And the stars gleaming rays softly send,
To thy hands we our souls, Lord, commend"

(lyrics to "Taps" by Horace Lorenzo Trim)

I had the honor of getting to know Floyd when I was a college student in Greenville, SC. We were both volunteers in Civil Air Patrol. As a young college student living away from home for the first time, Floyd and Jackie became surrogate parents to me. They welcomed me to CAP and into their family.

Floyd always had great stories. He also never settled for mediocrity. He could be brutally honest, but that honesty was always backed by the wisdom born from experience and the knowledge that he truly cared about your success. He pushed all of us to pursue excellence.

He will always live in my memory as an example of compassionate strength.

Old Floyd was a character who I grew to love, admire & respect. I first met him when my son Neil became a member of the Civil Air Patrol at our Downtown Airport, here in Greenville, SC. Little did I know how much a part of my family Floyd would become. Neil looked up to him as a father figure as Floyd was there for every important milestone in Neil's life. He was 14, Stewart was 13 when they became best of friends during their high school years. While both McGurk boys and Neil were at West Point, I couldn't have asked for a better support family as the whole McGurk clan were either employed or Cadets at the Military Academy. Their home was Neil's respite and safe place, along with so many other Cadets they sponsored. Whenever I visited West Point, I was always welcome to stay at the McGurk's home. Once all 3 boys graduated and Old Floyd returned to Greenville, we shared many a meal together. He cooked his famous 'Nectar of the Gods' meal many Sundays and we watched so many disappointing Army/Navy games together. When asked what time I should come to his house, Floyd always replied with "Come Early and Leave Early". I loved hearing this as I totally understood it. I have adopted this saying on several occasions and I always give Old Floyd the credit for saying it. Another favorite saying of his is 'Goodie', which he always said with such enthusiasm! That always gave me a chuckle.

I will always remember and be grateful for our weekly support groups. My neighbor Allison (soon to become my daughter-in-law), Old Floyd and I would meet at the Pita House to discuss and compare stories of deployment between Neil, Stewart and Marshall. Each of us heard different things from the boys so it was nice to be able to put it all together and stay strong with each other.

Many Saturday evenings Floyd would call to see if I wanted to go to Costco for one of their famous hot dogs and coke...all for $1.50! Little did he know I wasn't a fan of hot dogs but I couldn't resist accompanying him to one of his favorite spots.

And then came Patty! What a joy and a blessing to have met her and to have witnessed the love between her and Floyd. First time I met Patty was at Floyd's 75th birthday bash. I remember loving her instantly and marveling at the 'spark' in their eyes after all these years. I was lucky enough to have spent a little bit of time with Floyd and Patty whenever she visited SC. I was also fortunate to have been introduced to their daughter Tracy, who we call each other our 'soul sisters'. As much as I hated to see Old Floyd head West to CA, I knew it was the right decision and I'm grateful he was surrounded by so much love and family at the end of his life. Thank you Patty and Tracy!

Old Floyd and all of his memories will live on in the Kester household for years to come. I will miss him and his sweet boy Stewart, but am forever grateful they came into our lives. Rest in Peace, Old Friend.

Hi Pat, I was a Dames club member with you. We got our PHT (putting hubby through)..Times were tough as the curriculum was brutal and Ron and Floyd did the best they could to get through and work to add to the support of our families. 
I recall the night that we four went to a party and the time was getting late. I had a babysitter for my girls and you weren't feeling well. The boys were probably shall I say slightly sauced and weren't complying with our request so we grabbed the keys to the car and went home. Well the boys had to hoof it home and on the way stopped at a bar and continued partying tll about 2am. Ron made it home and passed out on the couch. But he had a 5 am survey class and he had the biggest hangover yet.  I didn't have any sympathy for him!  Found out the next day that you were really sick and had to go to the hospital. Floyd I'm sure was pretty apologetic and chagrined. (haha).
Ron and Floyd it it off as they were both vets. Ron in the Marines. Both were pretty tough guys but underneath teddy bears.
I'm very glad you reconnected and were there for him at the end as you were at the begining.