Obituary of donald monford kenney

Donald M. Kenney, age 89 of Pensacola, Florida, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on December 24, 2022. Don was born on August 15, 1933, in Valley Head, West Virginia, to Thurman John and Carrie Winifred Kenney. He was the second of eight children and grew up among the hills, hollers, and cricks of the Appalachian Mountains. After graduating from Tygart’s Valley High School in West Virginia, Don went to Detroit to work as a machinist. It didn’t take long for him to realize that factory work was no better than mine work and he didn’t see either one in his future. In 1955, Don enlisted in the United States Navy. In 1956, Don married Beverly Jo Hamrick of Valley Head, West Virginia, and, together, they traveled the world, raised a family, and as Beverly said, “lived a good life.” Don retired from the United States Navy in 1982 having reached the rank of Master Chief — an achievement of which he was particularly proud. After retiring from the Navy, he joined the United States Postal Service where he embarked on a second career. Don retired from the Postal Service in 2001. Don was a devoted husband and loving father. He had a happy countenance and always greeted his family with a hug, a kiss, and an easy smile and laugh. His siblings considered him the “mother hen” of the clan because he was constantly checking on everyone’s whereabouts and what everyone was up to. Don loved nature, was an avid birder, and kept a network of bird feeders and bird houses in his backyard that he maintained on a daily basis. He was an expert at identifying native birds and could identify most of them by their sound alone. He was a life-long learner, and a meticulous record keeper. He liked his coffee black, his beer cold, his gumbo steaming hot, and no one loved a good home-cooked meal better. Never idle, he worked every day outside in his yard until the day of his passing. He never complained. He never hesitated to get the job done. He considered all work a joyful endeavor and approached it as such. He was a good man who will be forever missed. Don was predeceased by his father and mother, sisters Eula Hannah and Shirley Swecker, and brother Steve Kenney. He is survived by his wife, Beverly, daughter Devon Kenney, son Michael (Deborah) Kenney, sisters Faye (Barry) Iselin and Jean Hamrick, and brothers Roy (Joyce) Kenney and Paul (Dorothy) Kenney. A private Memorial Graveside Service will be held for family and close friends on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at 11:30 AM at Barrancas National Cemetery, Procession will meet at 11:00 AM at Olive Baptist Church, 103 W. Winthrop Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32507.