Kyle Raymond Kilgore, 69 years old, returned to his heavenly Father on May 13, 2019 after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Kyle was born in Baytown, Texas, on November 1, 1949. The youngest of four children to Jacqueline Spradlin Kilgore and John Raymond Kilgore, Kyle spent his entire childhood in Baytown. He was a member of the first graduating class of Ross. S. Sterling High School, but always considered himself a Robert E. Lee HS Gander.
Kyle attended Florida Christian College before joining the Army Reserve where he served for several years. Kyle began his career as a welder at KBR before transferring to HL&P where he enjoyed a successful welding career of more than 30 years. After retiring as a welder, Kyle became a pipeline inspector where he lived, worked and traveled across the country, including locations in Pennsylvania, Mississippi and his favorite, California.
Kyle was a devoted husband and father and dedicated his life to his family. Kyle and Kathleen married March 9, 1984. Together they brought four children to the family, Kelly Beth, Kyle Patrick, Charlie, and Benjamin. The family became a blended family of seven when Allison was born in 1986. Cherese was an additional blessing when she was adopted into the family in 1991.
Kyle’s other passion was the family home built in 1907 by his grandfather, John Matthew Kilgore. After noticing the home was deteriorating on the bay, his family allowed him to move the home from Kilgore Road to its current location, where Kyle and Kathleen began the lifelong process of restoring the home and preserving its history.
The Alexander Chapel at Cedar Bayou Grace United Methodist Church has much family history and meaning to Kyle and the Kilgore family. Both Kyle’s parents and grandparents, Clarence & John M. Kilgore, were married in this chapel. While serving in the church, Kyle noticed that the chapel was in need of major repair. A committee was formed to return the chapel to its original state. Kyle, with the help of his sons and many members of the church community, restored it to its current condition. It is only fitting that Kyle’s celebration of life and service be held here today.
Kyle is survived by his wife, Kathleen, children: Kelly Kilgore McGee, Cherese Bissitt Barnett, Charlie and Ben Waterhouse, Allison Kilgore [Ace] Schlameus; grandchildren Reese & Ian Allnutt, Georgia & Temperance Waterhouse, Maddox & Ella Schlameus, and siblings John M. Kilgore, Colette Kilgore [Leroy] Greenley, LuClair Kilgore and many loving nieces, nephews and extended family. Kyle is preceded in death by his parents, Jacqueline & John Raymond Kilgore and his first wife, Kathy Kenney Kilgore.
The family will receive friends beginning at 12 p.m., on Saturday, May 18, 2019, at Cedar Bayou Grace United Methodist Church, 2714 Ferry Rd., Baytown, TX 77520. A Celebration of Life Service will follow and begin at 1:00 p.m.
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