ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Puddy Bear, like many who

knew Kenneth Gary “Kenny” Myers is still in shock that long-time

beach service business owner is gone.

In what police are calling a murder and the

man arrested calling it an accident, Myers was killed by a gunshot

in the early morning hours on Wednesday. The shooting happened at

the residence of Jon Christopher Washington at 26801 Marina Road in

Orange Beach.

Washington was released from jail this weekend

after posting a $100,000 bond.

Bear will always have fond memories of Myers,

also known as “The Chairman of the Beach.”

“Kenny has been a wonderful friend of mine for

forever,” Bear said. “Actually both of my girls worked the beach

service for him many years ago when they were like 14 and up and

now they are in their 30s.”

Bear said she last saw Myers within the last

month.

“I was just visiting with him a couple of

weeks ago and he was really looking good,” she said. “So so so

senseless. And sad. He was like a member of the family. A great,

great guy. A gentle soul is how I would classify him.”

Most afternoons, Myers held court at the Reef

in Perdido Key and after his workers would close down the umbrellas

for the day and pack away the chairs, they’d stop by to leave the

day’s receipts.

Rhonda Hart, who has played music in local

clubs for years, will miss getting requests for songs from

Myers.

“Kenny has been a friend to me since I first

started coming to Perdido Key,” Hart said. “My in-laws have known

him since he was a teenager renting chairs on the beach. I will

always think of him when I sing EmmyLou Harris songs. Every time he

would come to watch me play he would want to hear an EmmyLou Harris

song. I was very moved recently when I looked down and saw him

crying to one.”

Hart says Myers was an early a fan of her

music when she first moved to the coast and encouraged others to go

see her shows. She would point him out whenever he was in

attendance and gave him a nickname that stuck. 

“He was very encouraging about my singing and

would brag on me to all of his friends,” she said. “I had a running

joke with him about sitting in his chairs for free and he would

laugh when I would introduce him as ‘Kenny, The Chair Guy’ is in

the house!”

Hart said Myers loved his family and helped

out in the community as well.

“It wasn't very hard to see that Kenny was

someone who cared,” Hart said. “He touched me when he offered to

donate several times to my sons' football league.

“Kenny was a very big part of this Island and

its history and today I celebrate his life with a smile because I

know that is what he would want us to do for him. He will be missed

yet never forgotten.”

Myers was good friends with Hart’s

father-in-law and he would always tell funny stories to Hart’s

husband to help remember his late father.

“After I remarried it was funny to find out

that he had known my father-in law Dr. (Tex) Parmley whom I never

had the opportunity to meet,” Hart said. “He had many funny stories

about Tex, and my husband felt so good every time he would visit

with him about his father.”

His business partner, Don Stewart, was still

reeling from the news late last week.

“He was a good friend of mine and has been for

years,” Stewart said. “Frankly, I’m devastated by it.”

He and Myers have worked together in the beach

service since 2003. Stewart was having a hard time believing his

friend was gone.

“He was just a real laid back guy,” Stewart

said. “He was ‘The Chair Man.’”

Johnny Mullen, 27, of Orange Beach spent the

last two summers working for Myers’ Gulf View Beach Service and

fondly remembered him in a Facebook post.

“Kenny Myers - so much to say about you,”

Mullen wrote. “You were the most memorable boss I've ever had

because you were so much fun and you took care of me when it

mattered most. You were always around people who enjoyed your

presence because you made yourself so damn lovable. I'll never

forget your ‘rub some sand on it’ mentality and your ability to

make a (disgruntled) employee (me) feel like they mattered. I still

look up at every white Chevy truck, eyeing the driver down for your

silhouette. Still hasn't hit me yet but every hour seems more real.

Gonna miss you Kenny. A lot of us are. RIP Kenny Myers.”