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Conroe Loses Former Columnist and Retired Genealogy Librarian
The genealogy community has lost a valiant ally, when Imogene Kinard Kennedy passed away on May 19, 2000. She began her personal genealogy in 1959, and when she retired in April 1992, she had served Montgomery County Library for nineteen years.
Imogene Kinard Kennedy was born September 22, 1928 in Anadarko, Oklahoma, to Ira Neal Kinard and Thella Mae Smallwood. She attended Cameron College in Lawton, Oklahoma, where she met her husband Leon Kennedy. In 1960 they moved to the Houston area, where Jean worked at Clayton Genealogical Library, starting in 1968.
Jean was hired at the Montgomery County Library in 1973. In 1976 she was appointed head of the Genealogy Department, which was to be formed from materials pulled from the existing library collection. This had been a dream of hers for many years. She was able at the same time to bring about the establishment of the Montgomery County Genealogical & Historical Society.
This organization has since become the official friends group for the Montgomery County Genealogy Department. Since its inception the society has donated in excess of $150,000, in money and materials, as well as countless hours of volunteer service.
In 1988, Jean was the first recipient of the Montgomery County Genealogical Society's "HALL OF FAME AWARD" in recognition of her many accomplishments, one of these being the publishing of three books. Her book titled Genealogical Records In Texas is considered the definitive book on researching Texas county records and is still in publication today. She coordinated the Houston Genealogical Institutes in 1978 throughout 1980, taught beginners to advanced genealogy classes, was a sought-after genealogical speaker, and authored the genealogy column "Shaking The Family Tree" for the Conroe Courier in the 1970's.
Imogene is survived by four daughters, two brothers, eight grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, and numerous other friends and relatives.
It was her desire that any memorials be given to the Genealogy Department through the Montgomery County Genealogical & Historical Society. Anyone wanting to donate can send their check to MCGHS P. O. Box 867 Conroe, TX 77305-0867
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