Obituary for Frank Kennedy

Frank Graves Kennedy formerly of Blackwell, Oklahoma, passed away on August 7, 2015, at the age of 86 years at the Lamoni Nursing and Rehab Center in Lamoni, Iowa.

Frank Graves Kennedy was born in Blackwell, Oklahoma on August 20, 1927 to Frank Hoot and Lola Mary (Epperly) Gibson, but was later raised by his mother and stepfather, Bert Alphius Kennedy. Frank grew up in Blackwell and attended school here. He married Jessie Illean Freeze and they were blessed with six children, Mikey Jean, Rebecca Sue, Debbie Fay, Cheryll Ann, Rusty Eugene, and Frances Illean. The couple later divorced and he married Marilyn Baldwin on May 21, 1971. She became an important part of the children’s lives. Frank worked most of his life as a custodian for the Wichita Kansas School District. After his retirement, Frank and Marilyn moved to Arkansas City, Kansas, before moving to Blackwell. Marilyn passed away in 1996. Frank moved to Crown Colony in Lamoni, Iowa, in 2000, and to assisted living in 2011. He recently moved into the Lamoni Nursing and Rehab Center.

Frank loved fishing and anything John Wayne. He enjoyed his movies and visiting his birth place in Winterset, Iowa, every chance he got. Preceding him in death were his parents; wife, Marilyn Kennedy; son, Rusty Kennedy; sons-in-law, Robert Kent and Elton Ely; one grandson; three great grandsons; sister, Grace Dallas; and step sisters, Marguerite and Virginia.

Survivors include his five daughters, Mickey and Ralph Landers of Newkirk, Oklahoma, Sue and Bruce Sigler of Hornbeck, Louisiana, Debbie Kent of Newkirk, Oklahoma, Cheryll Ely of Wellington, Kansas, and Francis Davis and fiancé Paul Allaby of Owensboro, Kentucky; 22 grandchildren; 49 great grandchildren; eight great great grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy Dallas, Delores Malcolm, and Jo Fearnow, all of Oklahoma; brother, Jack Kennedy of California; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

Graveside services will be at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 27th in the Blackwell Cemetery.