Jack Orland Kennedy

Graveside services for Jack Orland Kennedy, 77, West Plains, Missouri will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 31, 2014, at Howell Memorial Park Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Kennedy passed away at 1:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 29, 2014, at his home.

He was born June 18, 1937, at Salem, Arkansas, eldest child and only son of Basil A. Kennedy and Olga Squire Kennedy. On October 26, 1947, he was married at Hernando, Mississippi, to his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Judith Ann Walker and to this union, three children were born: Richard Alan Kennedy, Steven Marshall Kennedy and Jackie Lynn Kennedy. Jack was a proud member of the Missouri National Guard for eight years. He worked at International Shoe Factory for several years while farming his own farm, cutting wood and working at a neighbor’s dairy. In 1969, he purchased the dairy and started Kennedy Dairy with his wife and children, becoming the Missouri Farm Family of the Year in 1973. Jack loved working the farm with his wife, father and sons at his side. He worked at Joy Dog Food for several years and in 1996 he started working as head custodian for Richard’s School. Jack loved kids, often decorating teachers chalk boards with his artwork of Disney and cartoon characters. After retirement, he expanded his love of gardening, planting and growing one of the largest and best gardens in the area. He loved supplying his family, friends and neighbors with the abundant produce he and Judy grew. In his spare time he enjoyed wood carving and made gifts of many of the “wood spirits” he carved. Jack was well liked and known to be one of the hardest working men around. He took pride in doing every job to the best of his ability, always going the extra mile to do things right. His family was his number one priority. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by them. Mr. Kennedy was a member of the Church of Christ.

He is survived by his wife, Judith Kennedy, of the family home; his mother, Olga Kennedy, West Plains; two sons, Richard Kennedy, wife, Michelle and Steven Kennedy, wife, Tracy, all of West Plains; one daughter, Jackie Kennedy, West Plains; five grandchildren, Alison Alaimo, Springfield, Missouri, Michael Kennedy, Springfield, Missouri, James Kennedy, Aaron Kennedy and Krista Kennedy, all of West Plains; four great-grandchildren, Kiora and Quana Alaimo, Sydney and Andrew Kennedy; two sisters, Jane Gilbreath, husband, Jack, West Plains; and Jeannette Stephens, Schererville, Indiana; three nieces and one nephew.

His father, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Mike and Flora Walker and one niece, Renee Stephens Casale, precede him in death.