Geronimo, OK
Funeral service for Ira Eugene Kennedy will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 5, 2025, at First United Methodist Church, Lawton, Oklahoma with Rev. Sean Cho, Senior Pastor officiating.
The family will greet friends from 6–8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Burial will follow at Flower Mound Cemetery under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.
Ira Eugene Kennedy, 86, of Geronimo, Oklahoma passed away Monday, March 31, 2025 at his home in Geronimo.
Ira Eugene Kennedy started this world, born to Silas Marion Kennedy Sr. and Loda Bradley on October 4, 1938 in Elmore City, Oklahoma. He had many titles: Genie Boy, Gene, Brother, Ira Gene, Eugene, Big I, Papa, Pop, Hog, Uncle Gene, Daddy, Husband, Ira, Mr. Kennedy, Professor Kennedy, and Professor Emeritus.
His chosen field was agriculture; he spent many hours on a tractor, caring for more cattle than he can count, hogs and sheep. He participated in showing and judging some of the largest livestock shows in the world.
At the age of seven he was diagnosed with Perthes Disease. It is a debilitating disease causing the hip joints to lose their shape due to a lack of calcium in the bones. He was in a special shoe that had to be built up five inches on his right leg. The shoe was attached to a metal rod that went up his body to just under his arms. He had to wear it continually for seven or eight years.
During his high school years, he was selected as the Junior Master American Farmer. At Murray State Agricultural College, he was selected as the High Individual Overall at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and later selected as an “Outstanding Agriculture Alumni”.
After graduation from Murray State, he completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Oklahoma State University. Later he went to work at Fort Reno at the Agricultural Research Station managing 800 breeding ewes and 1,200 feeder lambs. He was the Head Shepherd. While at El Reno he met his wife Roberta for over 60 years.
Later he was hired as the County Extension Agent in Durant, Oklahoma then at Cameron College in Lawton, Oklahoma as an Agriculture Professor for 37 years.
Besides teaching full time at Cameron, he also ran the concession stands during football and basketball seasons and was the Aggie Club sponsor. His career covered 35 years of educating students. Every day it was a joy to be there. He believed in being there every day and on time showing young students how to be responsible adults. It was his joy but also his passion. He made many life-long relationships with fellow professors, friends, and their families, including working on their farms and ranches.
At last count, eighteen members of the family, his brothers and sisters’ families, and his grandchildren have attended Cameron for at least a portion of their degrees, most completing bachelor’s degrees. Twelve attending other universities for undergraduate learning. Eleven have obtained their master’s degree at various other universities, one has obtained her PHD in Pharmacy and two have Medical Doctorates.
After retirement, he was awarded the honor of “Professor Emeritus” and the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from Cameron University.
He leaves behind to mourn, his wife, Roberta of the home, daughter, Pamela Varner and husband Patton, daughter, Joleyne Temple and husband David, two grandchildren Keegan Varner and wife Bethany, Seth Temple and three great grandchildren Kohen Varner, Kennedy Varner and Braelynn Phillips and many nieces’ nephews and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, 4 brothers and 1 sister, and 1 grandson Kevin Ira Varner.
An online guest book and sympathy cards are available at www.beckerfuneral.com
