Jimmy Ray Kennon Jr.

Jimmy Ray Kennon, Jr., was born September 23, 1962, in San Jose, California to Jimmie Ray Kennon, Sr. and the late Irma Lee Davenport-Kennon. He passed away on January 12, 2012, after a short, but courageous battle with cancer. At the time of his death he was surrounded by his family and friends. He was the third of eight children. Jimmy spent his first few years in South Palo Alto and East Palo Alto, California. In 1971, his mother Irma and his four brothers relocated to the Sunnyhills area in Milpitas, California. Shortly after in 1972, his father, wife, Lana J. Kennon, and sister, Tonya, also relocated to Milpitas, California. While in Milpitas, Jimmy attended Weller Elementary School, Thomas Russell Middle School, and Milpitas High School. He completed his secondary education at Milpitas High School in 1981.

As a child, Jimmy was a lover of sports. He would often participate in pick-up basketball and football games. He excelled at baseball. He played little league baseball for Milpitas North, where he captured the position of outfielder. His skills in this position would later lead to a short lived career as a semi-pro baseball player. Jimmy's love of sports did not end in his childhood, but continued throughout his life. You could often find him on Sunday and Monday nights in front of the television cheering on his beloved San Francisco 49ers.

Growing up, Jimmy would watch the television show The Untouchables with father and fell in love with the character Elliot Ness. Jimmy started to go by the handle “Ness”, with a motto of “Never Give Up”. Jimmy loved to spend time with his childhood friends, known in the community as “Ness and the Untouchables", Willie Carter, Johnny “Poppy” Copeland, Tony Flowers, Kent London, Kenny "Bluto" McDonald (deceased), Jay Shelton, and Willie Wilson. They remained friends for life.

After high school, Jimmy lived in several cities, including East Palo Alto, Fremont, and Oakland. In 2005, while visiting his sister Tonya, who had relocated to Georgia. While living in Stockton and in Georgia, he studied with the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Jimmy obtained a job as a forklift operator. In 2007, Jimmy decided it was time to return to California. His father flew to Georgia to help him drive back in Jimmy's beloved red Ford Escort. Together, Jimmy and his father drove the Escort cross country. During the drive, they were able to visit his father's birth place, Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, and Jimmy's Aunts: Ruby Jean Small of Shreveport, Louisiana and Annie Rae Boyd of Franklin, Louisiana. That drive allowed Jimmy and his father to spend lots of quality time together.

After returning to California, he worked as a forklift operator for several companies. In 2008, he began working as a fork lift operator at OA Logistics Services Inc. He took pride in his work and cherished the friendships he made with his coworkers. Jimmy worked at OA Logistics Services until his health failed him in October of 2011. In 2009, with the help of his friends Kent and Debbie London, Jimmy moved into his own apartment in Tracy, California.

Jimmy was a wonderful son, loving brother, and dedicated friend. He wouldn't hesitate to help out a friend in need. He loved his Sunnyhills Community and took pride in the fact that it was his home.

Jimmy leaves to cherish his memory and the joy he brought to his beloved father Jimmie Ray Kennon, Sr., mother Lana J. Kennon; his grandmothers: Lucille Davenport and Bernice Avery; brothers: Leon Kennon, Sr. (Linda); Jeffrey Kennon; Johnny Kennon; Jonathan Kennon (Kenda); sisters: Tonya Kennon; Jeanitra Kennon Hector (David), and Josi Kennon Swonetz (Jesse). Jimmy also leaves his uncles: Al Leroy Kennon; Calvin Kennon, Jr., (Yvonne), Louis Jackson (Patricia), Joe Jackson, MacArthur Jackson, Edward Campbell, Wilbert Davenport (Arteria), Lawrence Marks (Sharon), Andrew Marks (Bernice), Issac Brown (Sonya); aunts: Ruby Small; Annie Kennon-Boyd (Tim); Gail Jackson, Earnestine Nelson, and Dianne Langel; his nephews: Leon Kennon, Jr., Michael Kennon, Landon Harvey, Michael LaStrappe, Marques Butilla, Myles Dillahunty, Kendall Boone, Kimani Luckey, David Hector III, Winston Nigel Nelson, Jaden Hector, and Noah Swonetz; nieces: Tamara Rufus, Chandra LaStrappe, Miranda Nereu Kennon, Danielle Kennon, great niece, My'Auni Brown.

Preceding Jimmy in death are his mother Irma Lee Davenport-Kennon, nephew Jeffrey Kennon, Jr.; aunts Carol Smith Kennon and Erma Jean Taylor (Fred); uncles: George Brown III (Jamie) and Bob Nelson.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Kent and Debbie London, Johnny “Poppy” Copeland, Willie Carter, Jay Shelton, David Mosequeda, Willie Wilson, Donny Eiland, Derrick Dixon, and the Kaiser Hospice Team: Nichole Jackson, RN and Chris Voss. Without hesitation you responded.

Jimmy’s services will be held at the Lima Family Milpitas-Fremont Mortuary, Cedar Lawn Memorial Park, 48800 Warm Springs Blvd. Fremont. The Quiet Hours is Sunday, January 22, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Viewing from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) The funeral service is Monday, January 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. The family can be contacted at 408-263-4157.