Margaret Alice Kendrick

She was preceded in death by her father, Abner L Carnley; mother, Henrietta Anderson Carnley; brothers, Carroll M Bray, Donald Ray Bray, Abbie Lee Bray, Henry L Carnley and A.J. Carnley; sister, Annie Florence Carnley; husband, Durell Mangum "Dude" Kendrick; stepdaughter, Edith Kay Kendrick; son, William D "Dude Jr" Kendrick; and daughter, Tanya Elizabeth Kendrick Smejkal.

She is survived by her sons, Michael A (Virgie) Kendrick and David H (Debbie) Kendrick; son-in-law, Gary W Smejkal; grandchildren, Scott (Sara) Smejkal, Bradley (Lauren) Smejkal, Amy (Jeff) Holly, Holly (Mitchell) Hartman, Krystyn (Bryan) Richardson, Kelly (Casey) Tutt, David (Melissa) Kendrick, Jenna (Kyle) Verner and Lauren Kendrick; great grandchildren, Hannah Smejkal, Gretchen (Kaeden) Minton, Graydon Smejkal, Hudson Smejkal, Brennan Smejkal, Brady Holly, Brooke Holly, Blair Holly, Dylan Hartman, Jackson Richardson, Parker Richardson, Brinkley Richardson, Carter Tutt, Cooper Tutt, Claire Verner, Sadie Verner and Case Verner; and great-great grandchild, Ava Tobar.

She graduated from High School in Pleasanton, Texas. After High School she worked as a Telephone Operator, until she met and married the love of her life, Durell Mangum "Dude" Kendrick in 1950, and they moved to Victoria. They started their own business, Dude Kendrick Machine and Welding Works, where she worked as Bookkeeper and Secretary. She was also a Homemaker, Switchboard Operator for Citizens Hospital and later in life worked for Bible Book Store.

She was an avid hunter, including trips to Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, and New Mexico, often times bagging Elk, Mule, and Whitetail Deer when the men came home empty handed. She was a proficient gardener and loved her lawn mower more than her car. She loved being outdoors, you could always find her raking leaves or tending her chickens. She seemed to always have "pets" she raised including baby deer, baby racoons, baby foxes, baby pigs, squirrels, baby goats, rabbits, and the usual dogs and cats, but had no mercy on the racoons, chicken snakes, and bobcats that killed her chickens all the way up to 2016. She especially enjoyed taking her grandkids and great grandkids on midnight armadillo hunts, regularly checking her gopher traps, and occasional fishing trips to a pond or creek. She also helped work cattle, had horses, and participated in some local trail rides and parades.

Her cooking and baking skills were top notch. From her chicken and dumplings, dirty rice, venison steaks, peanut brittle, and wassail, to baking their favorite birthday cakes for all the family members; her recipes and kitchen time left no one hungry.

Special thanks to the staff at Vitality Court, Dr. Sara Ashraf, Dr. Gustavo Sandigo, Citizens ER and Floor Staff, and New Century Hospice for all their care and support.

Visitation will be held Friday, December 19, 2025 from 10-11am at Colonial Funeral Home, with funeral services beginning at 11am. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Carter Tutt, Cooper Tutt, Dylan Hartman, Graydon Smejkal, Brady Holly, Jackson Richardson, Kaeden Minton and Hudson Smejkal. Honorary pallbearers are Parker Richardson, Brennen Smejkal, Case Verner, Hannah Smejkal, Gretchen Minton, Brooke Holly, Blair Holly, Brinkley Richardson, Claire Verner, Sadie Verner and Ava Tobar.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to donor's choice.

Thoughts and memories may be shared at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com.