Mary Joyce Kennedy

Mrs. Mary "Joyce" Kennedy, daughter of the late William "Gussie" and Buena Dean, was born June 28, 1929, in the Turkey Creek community, Cass County Texas. She attended school in Hughes Springs and Avinger. At an early age she professed her faith in Jesus Christ and was a member of the Turkey Creek Baptist Church.

She was married to William "Bill" Kennedy on February 21, 1948, at the home of his brother Rev. Oscar Kennedy in Hughes Springs, Tx. In the mid-50's they relocated to the Dallas area, living in Oak Cliff until settling in Mesquite, Texas in 1959, where they would spend the next 51 years happily raising their two adopted children, Doug and Jana, and two beautiful granddaughters, Ashton and Kristina.

She was a faithful member of Oates Drive Baptist Church all throughout her adult life, serving in a multitude of rolls including Hospitality Service, Sunday School Secretary and Youth Sponsor. She loved to travel and enjoyed many road trip vacations with her best friends, "the girls".

She was preceded in death by her son Douglas Ray Kennedy on February 15, 1982, and her husband Bill on August 13, 2010. Also preceding her in death were her parents, Gussie and Buena Dean and her siblings Audra and Wesley Stucky of Hughes Springs, Tx; Elvin and Elsie of Hughes Springs, TX; Irma Faye Fincham of Hughes Springs, TX; Nolan and Sarah Dean of Linden; Ruby and A.J. Downs of Hughes Springs, TX; Ardis Murray Dean of Cass County, TX. Additionally, in-laws Oscar and Ola Mae Kennedy of Longview, TX; Henry and Offie Kennedy of Selmer, Tn; Maggie and Clyde Daniel of Paris, TX; Letha and Ray Hall of Linden, TX; and Mildred and Howard Webster of Daingerfield, TX.

Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her daughter Jana Kennedy-Spicer and husband Marty Spicer; grandchildren Ashton Hammack and husband Ryan Hammack, and Kristina Morgan and husband Shane Morgan; bonus grandchildren Kevin and Via Snoga, Tamara and Jason LupPlace, and Clay and Shanna Spicer. Additionally – and notably the most important to her, great-grandchildren Hunter, Austin and Raylee Hammack; Taylor and Dylan Snoga; Peyton, Jordan, Julia and David LupPlace; Averie, Saydie, Henry, Brysan Spicer; Shane Morgan Jr and great-great grandson Jensen Morgan; generations of nieces and nephews; and a host of friends and family.