Charles Ray Kennedy

Charles Ray Kennedy, 80-year-old Langley area resident, passed away on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at the Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa. He was born on October 11, 1944, in Haskell to John Preston Kennedy and Ruby Jewell (Hurst) Kennedy. Charles grew up in California and graduated in 1962, from Arvin High School. He worked in the oil fields for several years as a tool pusher in the Bakersfield area. On February 18, 1983, he was united in marriage to Diana Carol (Gianettoni) in Bakersfield. They moved to the Langley area 33 years ago and opened a car lot in Adair "Kennedy Quality Cars" working alongside his brother. Charles enjoyed fishing, camping, taking drives out in the country and was a big Cincinnati Red Baseball fan partially because his brother Junior played for the Reds.
He was preceded in death by his father John Preston Kennedy in 1974, his mother, Ruby Jewell Redwine in 1983; and a son, Ty Ray Kennedy in 1991.
The family includes his wife Diana of the home; his daughter, Cara Ann Paulk and husband Ron of Hawaii; step-daughter, Sherry Lynn Marmolejo and husband Lonnie of Bakersfield, California; siblings, James Kennedy, Patricia Combs, Donald Kennedy, Junior Kennedy, Johnny Kennedy, Brenda Leyva; grandchildren, Michelle Kennedy, Tony Tudor, Albert Marmolejo, Brandon Van Tassel, Ronee Paulk, Marisa Swift, and Matthew Marmolejo.
The family will receive friends and family on Friday, October 3, 2025, from 2-3 p.m. at the Burckhalter-Highsmith Chapel in Vinita. Online condolences may be made at www.highsmithfh.com or on the funeral home Facebook page. Arrangements are in the care of the Burckhalter-Highsmith Funeral and Cremation Services of Vinita. "Vinita's only locally family owned and operated funeral home."