Bettye Jo Kennedy

Bettye Jo Kennedy, 92, passed away peacefully at her home in Shawnee surrounded by her family on Nov. 3, 2016.  Born on Nov. 3, 1924 to Elizabeth Lively and William Fletcher Wallace of Tonkawa, OK, she was next to the youngest of 8 siblings and graduated from Tonkawa High School.  She attended Oklahoma A&M College at Stillwater and during WWII she worked as a riveter at Boeing in Wichita, KS. She met her husband of 58 years, Robert Kennedy, at his father’s skating rink in Perry, OK.  After his Navy service in WWII they were married and established their home in Shawnee raising 3 children: Bobby, Gregg, & Debi.  They owned the Roll-A-Way Rink for 50 years, The Candle and Gift Nook for 35 years, Bob’s Stereo and various other small businesses. Bob & Bettye were active, long-time members of the Shawnee community and the First Christian Church. Bettye had a big heart and was creative in many ways.  She was an award winning member of the International Candlemakers Guild, president of Christian Women’s Fellowship at her church and a long time member of the Delta Gamma Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority. She enjoyed cooking, entertaining and a good joke. She is preceded in death by her husband, Bob (who died in 2005), five sisters and one brother. She is survived by one sister, Dixie Bean of Atlanta, GA; 3 children: Robert Kennedy, Jr.- Shawnee, Gregg Kennedy - OKC, and Debra (Greg) Van Swearingen - Norman; 8 grandchildren: Ryan Kennedy - Torrance, CA, Michelle (Derek) DeArment - England, Laura Kennedy - Wellston, Taylor Kennedy - OKC, Noel (Michelle) Van Swearingen – OKC, Eric (Michelle) Van Swearingen – OKC, Kevin (Lisa) Van Swearingen – Houston, TX, and Alexis Van Swearingen – Austin, TX; and 10 great grandchildren. She is Home now and will be forever loved and remembered. Services will be 10am, Wed, Nov. 9 at First Christian Church, Shawnee OK.   Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery - Shawnee.  Services are under the direction of Walker Funeral Service.