Gladys Mae (Schuette) Kennedy was born to Henry J. and Ella E. (Jones) Schuette February 27, 1917, in their home in Lebanon, next door to Schuette Motor Company. She went home to be with the Lord on March 15, 2018.
She attended Lebanon schools from 1st through 12th grades, graduating from Lebanon High School in 1934. She took piano lessons from Bernice Scott ten years and continued playing, for church, school, other organizations and in later years every month for the nursing homes. She also enjoyed playing the saxophone in bands. She actively played the piano to the end of her life.
After high school she was the bookkeeper for Schuette Motor Company except for a few years when she was home with her children.
She married Kenneth Kennedy August 16, 1940 and they lived in Esbon for a year. She also was with Kenneth six months in South Dakota when he was in service. Otherwise she lived in Lebanon her entire life.
She was baptized in the Lebanon Christian Church in 1930. She has been a member of the CWF and played for the choir specials, also taught several Sunday School classes.
She was a member of the Over 60 Club, a life member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Music Club, Smith County Historical Society, Kanza House Genealogical Library, Red Cross Volunteer, Hub Club, Cub Scout leader, participant in the Maverick Band, royalty for Old Settlers Day, and a life member of the Girl Scouts. She was a leader or on the troop committee of Girl Scouts from 1949 to 2009 and quit because she broke her hip.
Gladys enjoyed throughout her life; traveling on family vacations, quilting, giving blood, playing the piano, making jelly, leading the Girl Scout troops, going to church, walking in parades, and working on history for the Lebanon Centennial books.
She made a lot of quilts and did a lot of quilting, taking over the planning of community quiltings from Frances Ellner, in 1981. She provided quilts for law officials to have for children in various instances. She was known far and wide for making, selling, and mostly giving of her jelly. Her biggest cause was to promote Lebanon and support all factions of making Lebanon a better place for all.
She was preceded in death by her parents; 2 brothers, RJ & Henry; a baby sister Helen Irene; husband Kenneth; son in law, Robert “Bob” Weber.
Gladys is survived by her five children: 3 sons Kent Kennedy, and wife Soni, of Lebanon, Kansas; Carl Kennedy of Miltonvale, Kansas; and Joe Kennedy, and wife Sandy of Great Bend, Kansas. Two daughters: Kay Weber, of Hoxie, Kansas, and Lynn Schneider, and husband Les, of Lucas, Kansas.
Grandchildren: Todd Kennedy, and wife Annette of Phillipsburg, Kansas; Nicole Kennedy of Manhattan, Kansas; Tyler Kennedy, and wife Kristina of Manhattan, Kansas; Anne Rogers, and husband John of Plainville, Kansas; Arminta Culver of Oakley, Kansas; Kenneth Weber, and wife Carrie of Colby, Kansas; Brodie Kennedy of Miltonvale, Kansas; Jessica Griffith, and husband Adam of Moundridge, Kansas; Joel Schneider, and wife Beth of Hays, Kansas; and Samantha Schneider, and friend Matthew Hyman of Hutchinson, Kansas
Great Grandchildren: Dakota, Cheyenne, Taylor and Riley Rogers; Amelia, Anthony, and Olivia Culver; R.J., Elliot, Nathan, and Harper Weber; Ashlynn, Collette and Hannah Kennedy; James, Bailey, Tea and Ethan Kennedy; Elena (Ellie) and Zora Griffith; Jaylan Schneider and Maysyn Tippy.
Great Great Grandchildren: Jaxxon Conlin.
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