June 17, 2015

Reta N. (Boyd) Kennedy, 88, of Prairie Village, Kan., died Sunday, June 14, 2015.
Reta was born Feb. 23, 1927, to William S. and Hallie J. (French) Boyd in rural Crawford County near Hepler, Kan., following her twin sister Rema by just a few hours. She graduated from Hepler High School in 1944, and that fall, began teaching in a one-room school house, starting a career that would span nearly 50 years. Reta taught school and took classes during the summer, earning her teaching degree from Pittsburg State University in 1953.
Following graduation, she moved to Kansas City, Kan. She taught at elementary schools in Johnson and Wyandotte counties including Prairie, Porter, Junction, and Oak Grove. She also founded and operated Pixie Pre-School at the First Baptist Church of Turner while her children were young. She retired in 1990.
Reta was an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Turner Fortnightly Club and the Retired Teachers Association of Wyandotte County. At Grinter Chapel, she was active with the United Methodist Women, the Laura Dell Circle and supporting Cancer Action.
Reta joined the Oxford Fellowship group in the early 1950s, where she met her future husband, Kenneth M. Kennedy Jr. They were married Sept. 3, 1960. In 1961, they moved to the Turner neighborhood of KCK where they raised two children, and enjoyed gardening and traveling together for many years. Reta truly enjoyed the company of family, and found joy in hosting large holiday gatherings. She also enjoyed sewing and crafting with many projects simultaneously in progress.
She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth, and sisters Thora Byers, Neva Coester and Rema Dalton. She is survived by her children Gayle K. Callahan (Mike), Prairie Village, Kan., Warren B. Kennedy (Gisela), Bonner Springs, Kan.; and three grandchildren, Connor Callahan, Cameron Kennedy, and Brianne Kennedy. The family would like to thank Brighton Gardens and Crossroads Hospice for the special care Reta received.
Visitation will be from 9 - 10 a.m., with funeral following at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 17, at Porter Funeral Home, 1835 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS 66102. Burial will be in Pleasanton, Kan. on Wednesday, June 17 at 1:30 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to Grinter Chapel United Methodist Church, Kansas City, Kan., where she was a member for over 50 years.
Condolences may be expressed at www.porterfuneralhome.com . Arrangements: Porter Funeral Home & Crematory, 1835 Minnesota Ave. Kansas City, KS (913) 621-6400.