Edward Reynolds Kennedy Jr.

Edward Reynolds Kennedy, Jr. of Midland, Texas passed away on March 11, 2013. He was 89 years, 6 months and 20 days old. He was born August 19, 1923 in Sentinel Butte, North Dakota. His parents were Edward Reynolds Kennedy, Sr. and Jeannette Cecilia Simard Kennedy. Edward Reynolds Kennedy Sr. was born in 1884 and passed away on Easter Day 1960. Jeannette Cecilia Simard Kennedy was born January 6, 1891 and lived to be 110 years old. The Kennedy Family of Sentinel Butte, ND owned a drug store and a wholesale business. Edward attended a one room school in Sentinel Butte. At the age of 16 he graduated from high school. Just before his 17th birthday he left Sentinel Butte to attend the University of Texas in Austin. During World War II he left the University and served in the U.S. Army Infantry in France. He was severely wounded there and received a Purple Heart. He carried the shrapnel fragments lodged near his heart for the rest of his life. After the war he returned to the University of Texas where he received his Master's Degree in Geology. Edward moved to Midland in the late 1940s and worked for Argo Oil Company. He became an independent geologist in 1962. His innovative and prolific geological ideas and work were instrumental in the discovery and development of numerous Cherry Canyon and Bell Canyon oil fields in the Delaware Basin of West Texas and Southeast New Mexico including Kennedy-Faulkner, Rhoda Walker, Scott, Herradura Bend, West Chapman, and Lovelady fields. Edward loved life and had many interests including archaeology, astronomy, history and of course, geology. Some of his happiest times were spent in the Davis Mountains and the Hill Country of Texas enjoying the great outdoors by day and star gazing at night. He enjoyed swimming with his friends at the COM Aquatics Center. He was a member of the University of Texas Alumni, West Texas Geological Society, SIPES, and the Midland Archaeological Society. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Blix Mary Pate Kennedy in 1975; his older brother, Bernard Kennedy in 2002; stepdaughters, Bonnie Atchley Fox and Kathryn Atchley Smith. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Margaret Jones Atchley Kennedy; daughter, Blix Ann Kennedy Masterson; son-in-law, Richard Earl Masterson; granddaughter, Stephanie Ann Masterson Guss and husband Michael Lee Guss; great-grandson, William Edward Dworsky; sister-in-law, Mrs. Bernard J. Kennedy; niece, Coleen Kennedy Roller and husband Larry Roller; niece, Roberta Kennedy Cary and husband John Cary; nephew, James Kennedy and wife Betty Schroeder Kennedy; nephew, Thomas Kennedy and wife Melisa Schacher Kennedy; four great-nieces: Liz Cary, Carissa Kennedy Bertsch, Katie Kennedy and Cassie Kennedy; six great-nephews: Patrick Cary, Chris Roller, Andy Roller, Ben Roller, Willie Roller and Jason Kennedy; step-granddaughter, Kyndra Jones and husband Bradley Jones; step great-grandsons, Myles Jones and Kyle Jones. Edward also leaves behind his beloved pets Pecos, his dog and Leo, his cat. As he wished, there will be a celebration dinner honoring Edward's life on Monday, March 25th at the La Bodega Mexican Restaurant in Midland, Texas at 5:30 p.m. He requested friends and family celebrate his life with good times, food, and drink. Please join us. Memorials may be sent to: Midland Humane Coalition P.O. Box 4040 Midland, TX 79704 Grand Companions Humane Society P.O. Box 1156 Ft. Davis, TX 79734 St. Ann's Catholic School 2000 W. Texas Ave. Midland, TX 79701