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George Eldon Kennedy ©Enid News and Eagle 12-27/28-2017 Submitted by: Glenn
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August 21, 1938 - December 24, 2017
GEORGE "ELDON" KENNEDY
HUNTER-LAMONT [mdash] George "Eldon" Kennedy funeral service is 2:00 p.m. today, December 28, 2017, at Lamont United Methodist Church, with interment following in Lamont Cemetery. Arrangements are by Wilson Funeral Home, Pond Creek.
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The Celebration of Life services for George "Eldon" Kennedy, 79 years-old, Hunter-Lamont area farmer-rancher, is 2 p.m. Thursday, December 28, 2017, at the Lamont United Methodist Church, with Pastor James Riggs officiating. Arrangements by Wilson Funeral Home of Pond Creek, Oklahoma.
Eldon was born Sunday, August 21, 1938, in Shattuck, Oklahoma. He was the son of George Olbert Kennedy and Neva Francis Love Kennedy. Eldon passed away at his home near Salt Fork, Oklahoma, in the early morning of December 24, 2017. During his early school years, he attended Hunter, Morrison, and Rich Valley schools, finishing elementary school at Lamont. He graduated from Lamont High School with the class of 1956. He attended Northern Oklahoma College, and also Northwestern State College, where he met the love of his life, Marilyn June Work. The two married December 21, 1963. Upon graduation from Oklahoma State University in 1961, Eldon farmed with his father for two years before moving to Wichita to take a job at the Standard Livestock Commission Company, specializing in sheep sales, and selling more than 160,000, sheep per year. He also attended auctioneer school and became an excellent auctioneer, conducting farm and estate sales,and volunteer auctions. Many students will remember him saying, at FFA Labor Sales, "Turn around son, show 'em the good side!"
After returning to the farm, he served on the board of the Clyde Co-op for several years. He also served on the first board of the Hunter Rural Water District and was one of the people responsible for starting it, as he had seen how well rural water districts worked in Kansas. He loved the life of a farmer-rancher and tried to continue as such to the last days of his life, even as his health failed him. He delighted in going out in the pickup to "boss" his "good hired hands" as they fixed fences and fed cattle. Eldon was the proverbial "good neighbor" through the years of his youth and through his late middle age, and beyond. If a friend or stranger had a cow in trouble, a bull out, or a calf fallen through the ice, he was there with his horse, to stay until the problem was solved. He never thought to charge anyone for these services.
He would also give anyone "the shirt off his back." He constantly worried about others and would hire hands he didn't need and explain, "Well, he needed the money," or "He was down on his luck." He was very proud of his children and his wife, telling anyone who would listen of their talents and achievements. They were embarrassed by his bragging, but they could never get him to stop. Eldon was a member of the Lamont United Methodist Church and was proud that he helped build the new Methodist Church building. He could point out the row of bricks that he laid.
Eldon was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Ron.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his children, George "Chip" (Amy); Charles "Chuck" (Yvonne); Marci (Bryan); and Tom (Erin); and sister, Nevona Bossert (Art). He is also survived by grandchildren, Spencer, Harper, Carla, Dominik, Owen, Levi, and Max. Additionally, he is survived by many other relatives and a host of friends.
Memorials may be made to the Lamont UMC, in care of Wilson Funeral Home, 227 West Aspen Ave., Pond Creek, OK 73766; or to any charity of your choice.
Marilyn June Work Kennedy © Enid News and Eagle © Trout Funeral Home & Crematory 11-2019 Submitted by: Glenn
© Enid News and Eagle
June 16, 1940 - November 20, 2019
Marilyn June Kennedy, 79, of Hunter, Oklahoma, passed away on Wednesday, November 20, 2019. Visitation will be from 5 PM to 7 PM, Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at the Lamont United Methodist Church. A celebration of her life will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at the Lamont United Methodist Church, with burial to follow at the Lamont Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Tonkawa.
Marilyn was born on Father's Day, June 16, 1940, in Cherokee, Oklahoma, to Robert Linn and Ruth Evelyn (Thomas) Work. When she was a young girl, before entering school, she was raised by her grandparents, Walter & Lena Thomas in Hunter, Ok while her mother taught school and her father farmed. She had many treasured lifelong memories of her time in Hunter with her grandparents, including attending Sunday school and church at the Hunter Christian Church. When she was old enough to attend school, she went with her mother to Green Valley School in Woods County, which was a one-room school house where her mother taught all grades first through eighth. Marilyn was an only child until the age of eleven, so she loved going to school, learning, and making friends. She attended second grade through high school at Carmen, Oklahoma graduating with the class of 1958.
Upon graduation from high school, Marilyn furthered her education at Northwestern State College (currently known as NWOSU) in Alva, Oklahoma. While at Northwestern, her interests included art, music, and drama. She was a member of the Northwestern Rangerettes (a women's vocal ensemble) and Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. She graduated in 1961 with a B.S. in Elementary Education. Before graduation, Marilyn and a friend decided to attend a job fair for elementary teachers. They never expected to get hired, but to their surprise, they were both offered positions with the Wichita public school system. Marilyn knew it was an offer she couldn't refuse. Soon after graduating from Northwestern, despite not even owning a car or knowing how to drive, the country girl headed for the city. Marilyn taught kindergarten and first grade in Wichita schools for 7 years.
While at Northwestern, Marilyn met George "Eldon" Kennedy and they were married on December 21, 1963, in the Lamont United Methodist Church in Lamont, Oklahoma. Eldon and Marilyn returned to Grant County in 1968 to help Eldon's father with farming operations. During this time, Marilyn taught first grade at Lamont for 2 years before leaving the profession to raise 4 children. After 14 years as a stay-at-home mom and housewife, she returned to the classroom and taught kindergarten at Deer Creek- Lamont for 20 years.
Marilyn had a creative spirit and enjoyed reading, writing short fiction and children's stories, drawing and painting, sewing and dollmaking. She had a life-long love of music and could often be heard singing while she completed her household chores. As a child she taught herself to play the piano which she continued to enjoy until her passing. She played the clarinet in upper elementary & the high school band. She was a long-time member of her church choir. She had a strong Christian faith and was a member of the Lamont United Methodist church. Marilyn loved gardening and animals of all kinds. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy.
She is survived by her children; George "Chip" and his wife, Amy Kennedy of Fredericksburg, VA, Dr. Charles "Chuck" Kennedy and his wife, Yvonne, of Salisbury, N.C., Marci Brown and her husband, Bryan, of Hunter, OK, Thomas "Tom" Kennedy and his wife, Erin, of Edmond, OK; grandchildren, Spenser, Harper, Carla, Dominik, Owen, Levi and Maxwell; brothers, Ron Work of Lamont, OK, Don Work and His wife, Renee, of Woodward, OK, and numerous family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Eldon and her parents.
Pallbearers will be Pat Dowell, Zac Kirby, Elliot Muegge, Brady Brewer, David Bachman, Bryan Mendenhall, Drew McFeeters and Lane Williams, all of whom are her former students. Honorary pallbearers will be Don Muegge, Richard Metcalf, Brent Brewer, Bob Meyer, and her beloved classmates of the Carmen class of 1958.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lamont United Methodist Church. The family would like for you to leave memories of Marilyn at www.trouttonkawa.com .
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