Leah Marie Kennedy

Leah Marie (Moody) Kennedy was born June 18, 1940 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma to Truman Finis Moody and Sarah Marguerite (Brewer) Moody.

Her family moved to Raton, New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Houston, Texas, Oklahoma City, then Pauls Valley where she attended Kindergarten through 2nd grade. The day after her eighth birthday in 1948, they moved to Elmore City where she attended school and graduated in 1958.

She attended East Central University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business and elementary education. She was a member of Phi Delta Zeta Alpha Honor Society. She held two jobs while attending East Central University. She worked in the Public Relations Office and was a dorm proctor. In the summers, she worked at First National Bank in Pauls Valley. She loved attending Wesley Foundation and was a state officer. Several from her local foundation attended the Methodist Student Movement Convention in Champlain, Illinois.

While at East Central University, she was twice named to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. A friend announced loudly in the school cafeteria that “Leah made Who’s Who but still didn’t know What’s What!”

Upon graduation, she taught in Moore, Oklahoma. In 1962, she married Sherrill Joe Kennedy of Elmore City. They moved to Alex, Oklahoma where she taught 2 years. At this time, she also earned a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma in elementary education. In 1964, they moved to Lindsay where she taught until her retirement. She was named Lindsay Teacher of the Year.

She worked with Joe and their girls in Kennedy Family Auction Service and Outback Mini Storage. She helped Joe with their cattle, raising pigs, and whatever else. They were a team in everything they did whether it was going to church, basketball games, working, or playing.

Leah was a member of the Kappa Kappa Zeta Teacher sorority, Beta Sigma Phi, Lindsay Progressive Study Club, and two Bunco groups. She enjoyed her friends in each of these organizations.

Leah was saved in the Methodist Church in Elmore City and was baptized in Blue Hole at Turner Falls. She was a proud member of Lindsay United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School and directed Bible School. She loved playing in the Grace Note Ringers handbell choir. She was currently a member of New Horizons Methodist Church in Lindsay, Oklahoma. She enjoyed fellowship with her friends at church.

After retirement, she and Joe enjoyed several years of motorcoach travel. Leah worked as a tour director which she thoroughly enjoyed. She said it filled a vacancy from her years as a teacher, and it was like taking “tall fourth graders” on extended field trips. She and Joe took several groups to Branson, Missouri. Other trips included Alaska, Canadian Rockies, Black Hills and Mount Rushmore, Nova Scotia, New England Fall Foliage, England, Scotland, Germany, and Ireland. Her favorite trip of all time was taking her children and grandchildren on an Alaskan adventure for her and Joe’s 50th wedding anniversary. It was a trip of a lifetime!

The highlight of her life was her family. She and Joe had two daughters, Charlotte Ann and Kristi Jo. They followed in their mother’s footsteps, and both became teachers. She enjoyed helping Charlotte and Kristi in their classrooms, decorating bulletin boards, cutting out lamination, and reading to their students. She had two sons-in-law who loved her. She enjoyed cooking for her family, playing Bunco with her friends, and attending her grandchildren’s events. One of her greatest joys was seeing former students and hearing of their success.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Sherrill Joe Kennedy, and her parents.

She is survived by her two daughters and their husbands, Charlotte and Chris Apel and Jon and Kristi Herd. Her grandchildren Sarah (Herd) and Chase Bardwell, Carlee (Apel) and Garrett Reynolds, Cole Apel, Anna (Herd) and Connor Williams, and Channing Apel. Her brother Willard Moody and wife Donna. Her nephews, Bobby Moody and Joe Wayne Moody as well as the Kennedy Kids, her New Zealand exchange student daughter, Tracey (Sapsworth) Shorter, and a host of family and friends.

Funeral Services were held Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at the REC Multi-Purpose Building in Lindsay, Oklahoma. Burial followed at Elmore City Cemetery, in Elmore City, Oklahoma, under the direction of John W. Williams of Winans Funeral Home in Maysville, Oklahoma. Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.winansfuneralhome.com.