Helen Marie Kennedy

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Helen Marie Kennedy, 94, Walker, Mo., passed away peacefully on Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She was born Oct. 8, 1918, in Walker, Mo., to Elijah Clifton Newland and Emma Lorene Preston Newland. She married Raymond Kennedy on Jan. 6, 1938, in Nevada. He preceded her in death on June 10, 1983.

Helen was raised in the Walker community and was a 1936 graduate of Walker High School. She worked with her husband on the family farm during her years of marriage and since his death has continued to participate in the family farming operation with her daughter, Jenise, son-in-law, Jerry, and grandson, Jered. She was proud of her Century Farm which has been in her family since 1874.

Helen was a member of the Nevada United Methodist Church at the time of her death, but had been a member of the Mt. Vernon Methodist Church as a young adult until the time the church closed. There she was active in the United Methodist Women's group, taught Sunday school classes, Bible school and was on the church board. She was a longtime supporter of the Walker 4-H Club serving as project and club leader for many years. Helen was also a member of the Elizabeth Carey DAR Chapter of Nevada and was very patriotic. Before the national radar security system was in place she and friends volunteered as plane spotters and reported their observations for national security. She was an avid Democrat and voted in every election up to the time of her death. Some of her greatest joys were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved to be a part of their activities and spent many joyful hours watching her granddaughter, Laura, participate in horse shows. She spent her retirement years enjoying traveling on charter bus trips and family vacations with the grandchildren.

Survivors include her daughter, Jenise Burch and her husband, Jerry, Walker, Mo.; one grandson, Jered Burch and his wife, Crystal, Walker; one granddaughter, Laura Willson and her husband, Josh, Colleyville, Texas; four great-grandchildren, Kate Burch, Cole Burch, Jackson Willson and Reid Willson; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, Jan. 14, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada. Interment will follow in Newton Burial Park, Nevada. Friends may call now and until the hour of service and the family receives friends from 1-2 p.m., Monday, prior to the service at the funeral home.

Contributions may be made in her memory to the Walker Alumni Scholarship Fund, Mt. Vernon Cemetery Association, or Vernon County Youth Fair in care of Ferry Funeral Home, 301 S. Washington, Nevada.

View obituary and send condolences on line at www.ferryfuneralhome.com