Jo "Vick" Vickroy Kennedy

To know him was to be encouraged—truly, to be seen. He had a gift for calling out courage in people when they had forgotten it was there. Whether you were his kid, a discouraged student, a weary friend, or a stranger he met once, he believed in you, and he told you so until you believed it too.

He was a man of mercy. He had walked through deep valleys in his life. He tried almost everything the world had to offer, and nothing filled the ache in his heart. When he met Jesus in his mid-30’s, everything changed. His life was a testament to the saving grace of Jesus. He couldn’t talk about Him without crying, but if he could get a few words out, all he’d say was, “Jesus saved my life. I hope that for you, too.”

Vick was a master carpenter and woodworker whose hands shaped more than wood—they shaped communities. From turning a church into a home in Kansas, to crafting custom builds in Arkansas, to working with Central Texas’s largest homebuilders and launching his own inspection business, he was a pillar of the industry. His craftsmanship was unmatched, his word was gold, and his integrity never wavered. He was the one you called when you wanted it done right. Clients became friends, and coworkers became lifelong partners. He was a mentor, a problem-solver, and the person you called when you wanted it done right. His legacy lives not only in the tens of thousands of homes he touched, but in the lives of the people who built them, lived in them, and learned from him along the way.

He was living proof that the American dream is alive and well for those bold enough to walk without fear and take risks. When he left a steady job midlife to start his own home inspection business, he showed his family and friends that with hard work and purpose, it’s never too late to build something of your own. And he passed that belief on to everyone around him. He called out courage in others, reminding them they were made for more, and that chasing what you’re called to do is always worth it.

He is survived by daughter, Sarah Patricia Kennedy, known to her as Papa; his granddaughter Gracious Joy, who knew him as Granddaddy; his sisters Barbara Kennedy & Jeane Kennedy, and his mother, Geraldine Kennedy.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Patricia Michele Kennedy; his son, Christopher Michael James Kennedy; and his father Jo Kennedy, Jr.

For those who wish to honor his legacy, donations can be made to organizations he deeply cherished: Freedom’s Promise, a charity that works to prevent human trafficking and restore lives, and Hometown Missions, a charity dedicated to ensuring all Dripping Springs residents live in safe, healthy housing. Both reflect his passion for helping others—locally and abroad—find freedom, safety, and the chance to build a better life.

As we say goodbye, we do so with hope. Even though he told us not to “boo-hoo”, we will still shed some tears, because love grieves. And we grieve with hope.

Papa, we love you. We carry you with us. And we’ll keep walking this adventure until we meet again.

A graveside service for Vick will be held Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 3:00 PM at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery, 14501 N Interstate Hwy 35, Pflugerville, Texas 78660.