Kenny Ray Shull

Kenny Ray Shull, 74, was born March 29, 1948 in West Columbia, SC, and passed away on Monday, May 9, 2022, at his second home after a courageous, two-year long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was a son of the late Keenan and Florence Berry Shull. He was a lifelong resident of Lexington County but spent much of his time the past 12 years farming with his son in Salley, SC.

Mr. Shull served in the Navy and was a Vietnam combat veteran, serving two tours on active duty. He was also part of the Navy Seabees. He retired from BellSouth after 30 years. Mr. Shull never stopped working; however, he continued his own daily schedule of activities. He “worked” for years at the farm, running dozers and knocking down trees. He could fix anything from cars to tractors and could do everything from carpentry to plumbing to electrical work. He had many other interests including woodworking, buying things he needed on Amazon, Facebooking, and any other kind of tinkering he felt like doing on a particular day. Mr. Shull was also a lover of all animals. He had many pets over the years, from dogs to cats to squirrels. In recent years, his best companions were his three Chihuahuas (Petey, Charlie, and Chico), his rescue cats (Tigger, Tinkerbell, and Wink), his grand-squirrel, Pearl, and his rescue pit bull and best buddy, Junebug. Mr. Shull loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was loving and stern on the outside, soft on the inside, Papa to all of them. His latest post-retirement job was “Nanny Papa” to baby Kenleigh Belle. He sat with her for hours every day and enjoyed every moment with his last grandbaby. He was very proud of his beautiful great-grandbabies as well, and he loved on all of them right up until his last weeks on earth.

He is survived by his son, Kendt Shull and his wife, Melanie, of Salley, SC; daughter, Ansley Shull of West Columbia, SC; grandchildren, Pierce Ray-Shull, Ashton Shull, Ryleigh Metts, Kendan Shull, and Kenleigh Belle Shull; great grandchildren, Daylan Rowe, Lacey Ray; former spouse and mother of his children, Sherry G. Shull of Gilbert, SC; sister, Julia Toole (Calvin) of West Columbia, SC, and brothers, Terry Shull (Melba) of Lexington, SC, Ricky Shull (Robin) of Lexington, SC, and Joey Shull (Debbie) of West Columbia, SC and many nieces, nephews, and family members. He is also survived by his loyal companion, Junebug.

He was predeceased by his younger brothers, David “Cap” Shull and Dean Shull.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, West Columbia Chapel, with entombment to follow at Southland Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Pallbearers are his nephews: Rick Lucas, Calvin Toole, Jr., Stacy Shull and Kevin Shull and his grandsons: Pierce Ray-Shull and Kendan Shull.

The family would like to give a special thanks to his caregivers, Hattie, Jean, Denise, Catherine, Annette, Twanda, and Sarita.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a charity to which he faithfully contributed and strongly believed in, or to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, where his grandparents and many other family members are laid to rest.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caughmansouthland.com for the Shull family.