Jerry Fred Kennedy

Jerry was born in Great Falls, Montana on March 9th, 1936. His father was a career forester, requiring many moves as his career expanded. One step in his career brought the family to Reno, Nevada. Jerry was 6 years old, when he was told by a contractor neighbor that he should be an architect because he built his very first house there; built of scrap wood from the building developments. Therefore he attended the University of Colorado studying architecture for 4 years. The draft board drafted Jerry in 1958, saying “if you can’t get your degree in 4 years, you’re drafted in spite of the 5 years the curriculum required.” Jerry avoided the Army by joining the Navy as a Naval Cadet, accruing his Navy Wings of Gold in 1960. During his Navy career, Jerry flew multi-engine aircrafts, the super constellation – the sub chasing helicopter from an aircraft carrier. He attended Naval postgraduate school to finish a degree in Mathematics. The next step, Navy jets, flying from an aircraft carrier (Jerry’s fervent desire to fly jets). During his Naval career, he married and raised 2 wonderful boys. After retiring from the Navy (21 years), he was blessed with the opportunity to fly with Southwest Airlines for 18 years. After being forced to retire at 60 years old by the FAA, Jerry, decided to learn about his faith in Jesus Christ. Having seen the light, he decided to serve the Lord by volunteering and studying the word in Bible study fellowship (20 years) to give thanks for all the blessings he received as a non-believer. During this last phase in his life, he also became a mentor to a homeless man, through the organization Cornerstone, whose mission was to help the homeless in Fort Worth. Jerry further committed himself to join the Southcliff Baptist choir group, followed by the singing Christmas Tree for 20+ years. To keep his body alive and healthy, he played racquetball with a group of aging men for (25+ years) until his death.

Preceding Jerry in death are his son, Jim Kennedy; parents, Fred H. and Lucille Bell Kennedy; and brother, Bill Kennedy.

He is survived by his wife, Betty; son, Bill and his wife, Mary; stepdaughter, Susan Runner; grandchildren, Tessa, Makayla, Karissa, Kristen, Elizabeth, Josh and Matt; great-grandchildren, Ashley, Kylie, Emmaline, Benjamin, Ellis, Brileigh, Ava, Ryker, Anna James, Lillian, Lyla, Liam, Liana, Noah, and Miles.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 16, 2025 at Trinity Presbyterian Church. Inurnment will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Barrancas National Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516, https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel, 3351 Scenic Highway is entrusted with arrangements.