Franklin Dee Kennedy, 88, passed away peacefully, next to the love of his life, on Friday, April 22, in Randolph, Utah, from natural causes due to age.
Frank was born to Oscar and Rodella Jackson Kennedy on Oct. 4, 1933.
He spent his early years on the family ranch up Otter Creek, helping his dad and mother, his older sister, Shirley, and younger brother, James Richard (Jim).
Frank went to school in the old Randolph grade school, then went on to graduate from the Rich High School building that burned down. He enjoyed sports and was very competitive, especially in basketball.
School came very easily for Frank, so he was able to spend more time with sports than he did with school and books. Following graduation, he went to work for the Aspen Tunnel Co.
On Oct. 31, 1952, he married his high school sweetheart, Sydnee Ann Mower. They were married 59 1/2 years.
After they were married, he went to work for Deseret Land and Livestock for three years. He then went to work for the Stauffer underground mine and was honored to have a mine named after him — the Franklin Mine. It’s where he got a broken back, but in true Frank fashion, after several months, he recovered and worked hard for 16 years until the mine closed.
Frank then moved on to work for the Kemmerer Coal open-pit mine until he retired. After retiring from the mine, Frank needed something to do so he started raising beef and took pride in the fact that the meat packing company would always tell him he had the best beef they had ever seen.
Some of his hobbies he loved included being a jockey at the cutter races they had in Randolph and the surrounding areas. He also had a talent for and enjoyed yodeling.
Frank is preceded in death his parents, Oscar and Rodella Jackson Kennedy; and his brother, James Richard (Jim) Kennedy.
He is survived by his wife, Sydnee Ann Kennedy, Randolph, Utah; son, Gary (Jane) Kennedy, Heber City, Utah; son, Steven (Linda) Kennedy, Woodruff, Utah; son, Larry (Wendy) Kennedy, Randolph, Utah; his daughter, Julie (Kent) Whatcott, Randolph, Utah; 15 grandchildren; and 36 1/2 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 25, in the Randolph LDS chapel. A visitation was also held Monday, from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Interment will followed in the Randolph Cemetery.
