It was a very good year — 1958 — for Ken McCafferty. He got married and he started a business.

Both endeavors flourished over time. He and his wife, Leah Rae, had three sons, all who would prove successful in business — like their father.

Kenmac Sales and Rentals, the business he founded, would become a fixture in Butler. It has been a fixture on Main Street for five decades.

On Friday, McCafferty, of Renfrew, died at Good Samaritan Hospice at Concordia in Cabot. He was 85.

“Butler was full of great people when I was growing up,” said his son, Bob McCafferty. “I ride down Main Street and remember all the family names that owned businesses. He was part of what made Butler so great.”

Born Jan. 5, 1935, in Butler, Ken McCafferty graduated from Butler High School in 1952 and attended Robert Morris and Slippery Rock College. He also served in the U.S. Army National Guard.

In 1958, Ken founded Kenmac Sales and Rentals, where he worked until retiring in 1990.

His son, Brian, took ownership 29 years ago.

Ken was ahead of the curve when it came to rental shops. It is thought Kenmac — opened as “Ken Mac” at the time — was one of the first companies of its kind in the Tri-State area.

“It was a unique concept at the time,” said Brian McCafferty. “There was no Home Depot. There were no places to rent those things. That, in and of itself, made him unique.”

So did Ken's upbringing.

His father died when he was 2, and his mother raised him and his brother, Robert.

“My father never really had a role model,” said Brian, the eldest of Ken's three sons. “My grandmother raised two boys after the Depression. He came from humble beginnings, and he never wanted to be in the limelight. All he wanted to do was help others.”

Ken taught himself how to fix things. A tinkerer, he passed on that passion to his three boys.

“He learned how to fix everything,” Bob said. “I'm not sure how.

“Growing up with him, we were so lucky,” Bob added. “He taught us all the lessons that we needed to know. He taught us to appreciate the breeze blowing through pine trees, how to sail, how to give everything you have, whether it is work or play.”

Family vacations were spent shoveling mud in Johnstown in 1977 after the flood there, or helping victims of the East Brady flooding in the 80s and 90s.

“He was really big on his faith,” Brian said. “That was his foundation and it showed.”

While Ken's personal life flourished, so did his business.

In 2018, the store, known by most simply as “Kenmac,” was awarded the Community Champion Award from the Butler County Chamber of Commerce. It earned the honor because of its history and community contributions.

His sons have used the business acumen they gleaned from their father in their own endeavors.

Bob owns North Country Brewing Company in Slippery Rock, as well as the Harmony Inn.

“I was just so lucky and fortunate, even as I was butting heads with dad at Kenmac,” Bob said. “He knew the wisdom of tough love.”

Ken also instilled a sense of philanthropy into his sons.

Brian's community involvement began with a decade in the youth ministry programs at First United Methodist Church.

He also became heavily involved with the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, serving as chairman for one year; as well as Butler Downtown when it was just a fledgling organization.

Brian learned that from Ken, who was a charter member of the Westminster Church (PCA) of Butler. There he was an elder and taught Sunday school.

Ken also went on several mission trips associated with the church and was a past board member of Seneca Hills, where he volunteered many hours.

He also was a past board member of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce.

His obituary appears on Page 6.