James Donald Kennedy

Jim is preceded in death by his parents Steward C. and Edith Lucille Kennedy of Chickasha, Oklahoma, and his brother Dale Kennedy of Columbia, MO. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Norma Kay Kennedy, and his children and their families: Mark T. Kennedy and his wife Helene, Robin K. Oldfather and her husband David, Bryan J Kennedy and his wife Carmen, and Karen M. Ross and her husband John, along with thirteen grandchildren – Marlene Wolfe, Alison and Kate Kennedy, Alicia Slade and Joshua Oldfather, Rachel, Nicole and Andrew Kennedy, and Kinsey, Ethan, Paige, Kalen and Ella Ross.

Jim was born on August 8, 1941 in Chickasha, Oklahoma. Known in childhood as “Jimmy Don,” he grew up the son of a self-employed mechanic and followed his dad’s love of gadgets, electronics and Ham radio. The Kennedys were a musical family, and Jim was an avid musician, playing and teaching piano and guitar professionally in his early years and for worship and family in later life.

From his small town childhood in Oklahoma, Jim went on to live and work in many places with moves for education, military service and careers in business and full-time Christian ministry. Graduating with a B.S. in Physics from Oklahoma University in 1963, he fell in love with classmate Norma Kay Mackey of Oklahoma City, and they wed on December 28, 1962. After time as an officer in the US Army, where Jim completed Airborne training and served as a demolitions instructor, he went on to earn an MBA from Harvard University in 1968 and then into a career in the emerging field of computer science and business services. In this, he worked for various companies including his own business over the next 12 years.

During this time, Jim met and was befriended by a businessman named Gene Warr, a man who helped Jim understand the hope of the gospel. This life-changing experience of Bible study and scripture memory ultimately inspired him to leave business for full-time Christian ministry. Grateful for his salvation in Jesus, he then devoted his life to helping others know Christ and follow Him. His career in ministry took him from Oklahoma City to New Zealand, Singapore, and Dallas. In all, he served 32 years with the Navigators and retired from the post of leading the Business and Professional ministry. One-to-one discipleship was his labor of love and the focus of his ministry.

Jim loved family deeply, calling his wife Norma “Babes”. He loved people, music, humor, and great food, and had relentless drive, ambition, intellect and energy. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend whose life and legacy is reflected in the lives that God touched through him.

He will be greatly missed. A reception will be held at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home at 2pm following the interment.