Linda Rose (Budd) Kenney

Linda Rose (Budd) Kenney was born at home July 5, 1941, to Granvil and Ardis (Hoover) Budd. She grew up in a Missionary Baptist home on a farm in Willowville southeast of El Dorado Springs. Her paternal and maternal grandparents lived nearby, and they all attended the same Baptist Church.

She attended Pleasant Ridge country school for seven years. Linda graduated from the 8th grade in Hansen, ID, after which she attended four years of high school in El Dorado Springs, graduating from there in 1959.

Because her father was an influential Baptist preacher, she moved among Missionary Baptist circles from an early age: attending her first Church service at Glade Springs Missionary Baptist Church as a newborn not long after her birth. In her youth she was a witness to many events essential to the maintenance and continuance of the Baptist cause in Missouri as well as several other states. Throughout her life she had a very sharp mind with an active long-term memory and could talk at length about Church services, revival meetings, all night altar services, texts and sermons and the establishment of Baptist Churches. Her heart and mind were full of memories of the sacred past.

In December of 1952, during a revival at Jericho Springs Missionary Baptist Church she was saved. That Church added a special verse when they sang The Old Time Religion. When Linda was seeking the Lord that night, she requested that the Church sing The Old Time Religion. But they did not sing the special verse, so she requested that they sing the special verse. When the Church sang the verse that said: It makes the Methodist love the Baptists, Linda was saved. She was baptized and became a member of Jericho Springs Missionary Baptist Church. At the time of her death, she had been a faithful member and pianist of Alder Missionary Baptist Church for many years.

On July 4, 1959, at the home of her maternal grandparents, Robert and Verda Hoover, she married Raymond Kenney, to whom she remained a faithful wife for 50 years. To this union three sons were born: James Robert, Granvil Dean and Lynden Ray Kenney.

Linda was a capable woman with a strong maternal instinct, who had a lifelong love of family and church. She had a strong sense of right and wrong and could be a stickler about details. She was willing to “fight forever” for what was right and to defend her family. You wanted to be on her side. She was a valuable friend, a formidable foe, an unbroken link in an unending chain of everlasting love.

She spent her life as a homemaker, mother and nana to her family. She was a creative soul, crocheting her masterpiece rugs from what others would deem as rags, decorated cakes and was constantly transplanting and designing eye-catching flower beds. She was a wonderful teacher and was patient with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She taught them many values and there are fond memories of noodle making, bread baking, crocheting, picnics on the farm, fort building, piano playing and singing.

She prayed circles around her family. As each child was saved and baptized, she gave them a personalized Bible to commemorate the occasion and as a reminder to always serve the Lord in all things they do. A simple woman who lived a full life, loved her family fiercely and provided them a strong foundation. We can never forget her.

She stands today on the sunny banks of sweet deliverance.

If Linda was here today, she would tell everyone to seek the Lord and prepare to meet the Lord in eternity.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Granvil and Ardis Budd; sister-n-law, Francis Budd; brother-n-law, Wesley Jeffries.

Survivors include her boys, Robert, and wife, Angela – El Dorado Springs, Dean – Stockton, Lynden and wife, Peggy – Stockton; eight grandchildren: John Kenney, and wife, Kristen – Kodiak, AK, Ilene Charlton and husband, Matt – Macks Creek, Kalena Bruce and husband, Billy, Chelsea Abercrombie and husband, Josh, Tyler Kenney, Browning Proctor and husband, Kevin, Parker Kenney, Silas Kenney and wife, Hailey all of Stockton; 26 great-grandchildren: Mya, Livia, Garrett, Isla, Boone, Gus, Bella, Gretta, Jubal. Jed, Cora and John Kenney; Lowell, Eli, Vivian and Grace Charlton; Henry, Melaney and Jacob Abercrombie; Willa Bruce; Tristan and Graham Kenney; Finley and Isaac Proctor; Jamie and Lilah Kenney; brother, Bobby Budd; sister, Marcene Budd; inlaws, cousins nieces and nephews.

Services and burial were held Tuesday, Nov. 21, at Alder Missionary Baptist Church with Bro Darren Willis officiating.

Pallbearers were Robert Kenney, Dean Kenney, Lynden Kenney, Tyler Kenney, Silas Kenney and Josh Abercrombie.

Honorary Pallbearers: John Kenney, Billy Bruce, Matt Charlton, Kevin Proctor.