Dr. Jerry Ray Kennedy

Kennedy, Dr. Jerry Ray
76, of Mesa, Arizona passed away on May 8, 2011. Jerry was born and raised in the small community of Palmers ville, Tennessee to Raymond and Eula May Kennedy on January 6, 1935. He was preceded in death by his two older sisters Annette Hiler and Ollie B Simmons. With assistance from his family, Jerry worked his way through college, graduating from University of Tennessee Medical school in 1960. His long career in the medical profession (interrupted briefly for a two year stint in the Air Force in 1962) began in private practice and on the staff of Baptist Memorial hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. He later moved to Washington, DC to begin a long and distinguished career in various federal agencies-including the FDA and the State Department, where at one time he was the primary physician for Secretary of State George Schultz. He had many stories and memories to share with his family about congressional testimonies (during his FDA days) and of and treating/traveling with many of our country's past leaders. His anecdotes included stories about foreign trips with Presidents Carter, Reagan, and George Bush Sr. After his retirement from the federal government, Jerry pursued and received a law degree from LaSalle University (never used but a dream he had held) and immersed himself in his interest of genealogy, ultimately tracing family roots back into the 1600's. Among those mourning the passing of Jerry, are his niece Janelle Warren (and husband Pete), his great-nephews Kevin (wife Colleen) and Lyman (wife Shelly) Watson, great-great nieces Elizabeth Alvarez (husband Mike) and Aeriel Carlson, extended families of Gus/Melony Garcia and Greg/Rhonda Hastings and the apples of his eye, great-great nephews Logan and Corbin Watson. A memorial will be held at the Legacy Retirement Residence (5625 E McKellips Road in Mesa, Arizona 85215) on Wednesday, May 25. In honor of Jerry's continued interest in history and genealogy, the family requests that, in lieu of flowers, that donations be sent to the Palmersville Historical Society PO Box 21 Palmersville, TN 38241.
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