Jimmy O'Brien Kennedy

REVEREND JIMMY KENNEDY Funeral services for Jimmy Kennedy, 74, of Bledsoe, Tex. and formerly of Cortez will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 18, at the Lifeway Baptist Church. Interment will follow in the Summit Ridge Cemetery in Dolores, Colo. Jimmy O'Brien Kennedy was born May 6, 1935 near Lamesa, Tex. to Velma and John Kennedy, and died at his home in Bledsoe, Tex. on the afternoon of July 13, 2009. He was reared in Bledsoe. He enjoyed the rural farming life of west Texas, and often humorously depicted it in his life stories applied to his sermons. He was married to Bonnie Jean Gardner in Portales on Mar. 20, 1954. The couple enjoyed more than 55 years of marriage. Jimmy held a bachelor's degree from Eastern New Mexico University with a major in religion and a minor in business. Jimmy was ordained as a minister in 1961, and served 48 years as a Southern Baptist Pastor. His first pastorate was the Westside Baptist Church in Portales from 1961 until 1968. From 1968 until 1971 he pastored in Kirtland, N.M. From 1971 until 1997, he made his home in California where he served as pastor in El Centro, Visalia and Tulare. In 1997 he became the pastor of Lifeway Baptist Church in Cortez. After 10 years there he moved to Durango, as pastor of the First Southern Baptist Church. He and his wife moved back to Bledsoe, Tex. in 2008, and for the past year, Jimmy has been the pastor of the Causey Baptist Church in Causey, N.M. Jimmy enjoyed people and would always take time to listen and share an inspiring word of encouragement. He would always share an individual's best accomplishments when introducing them. Jimmy's family was everything to him. He was always there to support and encourage his children and grandchildren. This unconditional love extended to his church members and many times at all hours of the day and night. Since he knew most individuals in town, Jimmy could often be seen in his jeans and boots always sharing a smile and a story. Jimmy believed in the redemptive salvation through a close relationship with God. He worshiped as a Southern Baptist. Jimmy was a highly acclaimed minister in church worship and administration. This was recognized in his executive roles with the Southern Baptist Conventions of Colorado, New Mexico and California. Of personal enjoyment to him was his role as a board member for over 15 years on the Colorado and California Southern Baptist Foundations which provided financing and annuities for church growth to further the ministry. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie of their home in Bledsoe, Tex.; his two daughters and sons-in-law, Debra Jean and Michael D. Parker of Summit Lake, Colo. and Denise June and Keith Dorsey of Yuma, Ariz.; ten grandchildren, Jenna Parker, Brandon (Brandy) Parker, Briana Parker, Matthew Bailey, Chad (Jenae) Bailey, Cori (Fransisco) Lopez, Sebrina Kennedy, Marisa Kennedy, and Melody and Michelle Kennedy who both make their home with their grandparents in Bledsoe; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Clinton (Gerry) Kennedy of El Paso, Tex.; two sisters, Bobbye Ann (Roger) Lohrenz of Keller, Tex. and June Gandy of Bledsoe, Tex. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Eddie Lee Kennedy; a sister, Marie Hicks and by his son; Jimmy Laird Kennedy who died July 26, 2007.