Mary Reena ‘Missy’ Kennedy
Mary Reena “Missy” Kennedy, 71, of Eolian, passed away on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. Her graveside service will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at the Moran Cemetery, with Jeralyn Sledge officiating. The family will welcome friends for a visitation from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 23, 2021, in the Melton-Kitchens Chapel of Memories.
Mary Reena “Missy” Garlitz was born November 4, 1949, in Stamford, Texas. Missy, as she was known, grew up moving around Texas with her family: parents, Elizabeth Alexene Garlitz and Otto Herman Garlitz; sister, Delilah Elizabeth “Dee” Garlitz-Balliew; and brother Roy Herman Garlitz.
The family settled in Hereford, Texas, and this is where Missy met the love of her life, Sammy Branson Kennedy. They married in Hereford on September 21, 1968. They made their life in Hereford for a couple of years before moving to Albany, Texas, in 1971. And it was with the birth of their daughter, Branson Reena “Brandi” Kennedy, on August 6, 1971, that the couple became the three musketeers.
The family lived in Albany until 1984, after which they moved to Moran, Texas, and started the Rocking Chair K Ranch. In 1990 Sam and Missy moved back to Hereford, the place where their love story began. Then, in 2011, they moved back to “God’s Country” and made their final home in Eolian, Texas.
On July 20, 2021, their love story was completed — Missy went to heaven to tell Sam happy birthday.
Missy was preceded in death by her loving husband, Sammy Branson Kennedy; her parents, Otto Herman Garlitz and Elizabeth Alexene Garlitz; sisters-in-law, Verda Tefertiller and Nina Kennedy; and brother-in-law, Jerry Tefertiller.
She is survived by her daughter, Brandi Kennedy of Abilene; a very special nephew that was more like a son, Roy Henry Balliew, along with his wife Brandi and their children Landon, Logan, and Loralie, all of Albany; sister, Dee Garlitz Balliew and husband Wayne of Albany; brother, Herman Garlitz of Eolian; sister-in-law, Kay Kennedy Dillard of Portales, New Mexico; brother-in-law, Marshall Kennedy of Denver, Colorado; along with several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
