August 16, 1937 ~ February 22, 2025 (age 87)
Obituary
Funeral services for Shelby Ray Kenney, 87, of Nacogdoches will be held at 3:00pm on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at International Church of Nacogdoches, officiated by Bro. Buddy Leach and Bro. Dennis Land. Interment will follow at Harmony Cemetery. A visitation will be held prior to the service from 2:00 to 3:00pm on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at International Church of Nacogdoches. Mr. Kenney passed away on February 22, 2025, in Lufkin.
Shelby Ray Kenney, born August 16, 1937, in Gilbert, Louisiana, a resident of Nacogdoches, Texas, went to be with his Lord and Savior on February 22, 2025.
He is preceded in death by mother, Elaine Poteet, father, Karl Kenney, brother, Emmett Kenney, sister, Shirley Bergman, wife Beverley Kenney and son Darrell Kenney.
He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Joyceanne Kenney; brother, Butch Poteet, sister, Tammy Kenney; brother-in-law Larry Bergman, son Dwain Kenney and girlfriend Debbie, son Dale Kenney and wife Cheryl, stepson Jerry White and wife Carrie, stepson Andrew White. Grandchildren (12): Shelley Champlin and boyfriend Lee, Shane Kenney and wife Alyssa, Morgan Kenney, Austin Kenney and wife Ashton, Derek Kenney and wife Kelsi, Caleb Kenney, Nick Kenney and girlfriend Kerri, Kyle Kenney and wife Melanie, Corey Kenney and wife Julie, Alex White, Austin White, Landon Rollins. Great Grandchildren (16): Cole, Jessie, Wyatt, Tatum, Beckett, Jacob, Karlee, Kylee, Landon, Allison, Katelyn, Lance, Garrett, Payton, Jaxon, Max, Kami, and Wrynn.
Shelby Ray Kenney is more than just a name. It appears that through his journey of life, into his early years, he was like a young Tom Sawyer seeking to do something with his life. Influenced by his father, Karl Kenney, he learned the carpenter trade while working alongside him. As a teenager he stepped into his cowboy boots and moved to Texas. While attending Pasadena High School, he met the love of his life, Beverley Ann Richardson. They married, had three boys, and enjoyed 57 years together. Shelby served in the US Air Force, where he received training as an Airplane Mechanic. He worked for Cameron Iron Works as a machinist and later returned to his carpentry skills to become a framing contractor in the Houston area. He built a very successful business including training his sons, just like his father did. His hobbies were riding and training roping horses, later turning to cutting horses. He loved competing at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He was a cowboy at heart and moved to East Texas to start ranching, cattle and horse training in Corrigan, Texas. Later moving to Nacogdoches and building his dream home, that would be his final homestead. Shelby established a very successful custom home building business, “Homes by Kenney”, retiring in 2001. His hobbies soon returned to sharing his love of fishing and hunting with his family. His biggest fish caught on Sam Rayburn was Opelousas Catfish 84.5 Lbs. In 2008 he lost his wife of 57 years to cancer. He married Joyceanne White and they shared 15 years together. Joyceanne has the heart of a caregiver and was dedicated to caring for Shelby from day one. Over the past few difficult months, she gave unselfishly of herself caring for him. He was a longtime member of Icon Church of Nacogdoches. Shelby loved the Lord and spending time with his family and sharing his lifetime legacy of knowledge and fish stories. The Annual Kenney reunion at the fish camp was always something special and has become a family tradition for the last 15 years.
Serving as Pallbearers are: Shane Kenney, Derek Kenney, Caleb Kenney, Nick Kenney, Kyle Kenney, Corey Kenney, Austin Kenney, Lance Kenney.
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