Betty Jo Kennedy
Ava, MO

Betty Jo Kennedy, 83 years, passed to her Heavenly home on February 1, 2015 at Cox Medical Center South, Springfield, MO with her family by her side.

Betty was born in Kosse, TX on April 9, 1931, she was the eighth of ten children to Robert Charles and Ida Mae (Johnson) Lewis. The Lewis family moved frequently during the 1930's and early 1940's to wherever there was work for Betty's father and brothers, from Texas to Alabama to Missouri and then back to Texas. Betty often reminisced on bittersweet, vivid and occasionally humorous accounts of her family's hardships and journeys through the Great Depression and Second World War. She married Adelphaus Thurmon (A.T.) Kennedy on May 13, 1949 in Perryton, TX and to this union five children were born. Due to A.T.'s work, his job moved them from Perryton, TX to Paducah, KY to Portsmouth, OH and Granite City, IL. In 1967, the family moved from Granite City to Ava where she remained until her death.

Betty's life was a celebration of faith, family and friends. As a single parent, grandmother and great grandmother, she was resourceful, tough, untiring, affectionate and playfully mischievous. To her friends she was devoted and sincere. Although she had lived in many places prior, she considered Ava her true home and it showed in the bonds and friendships she cultivated over five decades. During her years in Ava she was employed at the Spalding Factory, Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Otasco and the City of Ava, where she retired as Court Clerk in 1996. She was cherished and teased for her "Southern" accent and expressions, distinctive laugh and love of talk. Betty was an active member of the Ava General Baptist Church for many years and later attended Ava Full Gospel Church. Betty served on several boards including Christian Center of the Ozarks, Ava Full Gospel Church and Ava Victory Academy. She was also the Secretary of Ava Full Gospel Church for many years and a Mary Kay Cosmetics consultant for almost 40 years. She was always eager to help others, whether it be babysitting her grandchildren or taking a friend to a doctor's appointment. Betty loved family get-togethers and holidays when she could cook a huge meal for a house full of family and friends-the more crowded and noisy the better.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Adelphaus, four brothers, Milton, Vernon, William and Harold; three sisters, Vona, Lorene and Inez; half-brother, Albert and son-in-law, William Rollins.

Betty is survived by five children, Alan Kennedy, Ava, MO, Cary Kennedy, Sparta, MO, Cindy Garrett & husband, Mike, Ava, MO, Janet Rollins, Sparta, MO and Charlie Kennedy & wife, Gloria, Scottsbluff, NE, 11 grandchildren; Paul Bocchi and wife, Roxanne, Chris Kirkland and wife, Amy, Stacy Yeary and husband, Derek, Colby Rollins, Melissa Kennedy, Amelia Kennedy, Heather Snelson and husband, Jason, Jenny Kennedy, Cami Bohnenkamp and husband, Lee, Ashley Nash and husband, Will and Alena Kennedy. Betty has 16 great grandchildren; Brittany, Tyler, Amber, David, Tanner, Logan, Trenton, Mallory, Sydney, Brandt, Jules, Maci, Myley, Rhett, Kennedy and Harper. She has one great great grandchild, Hadleigh, a daughter-in-law, Carmen Kennedy, one brother, Robert Lewis and wife, Helen, Perryton, TX, one sister, Janice Thomas, Nashville, TN and numerous special nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Betty will be Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, MO with burial in the Ava Cemetery. Visitation will be Wed. from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the funeral home. Officiating will be Rev. "Butch" McCleary, Pastor Rod Scoville and Pastor Oren Alcorn. Memorials may be made to Gideon's International, Alzheimers Assoc. or Ava Full Gospel Memorial Fund.