Richard Ezra Kennedy 1930-2015Richard E. Kennedy, 85, died peacefully on December 24, 2015 after a short battle with lung cancer. Dick was born on June 29, 1930 in McAllen, Texas. When he was still an infant, Dick and his mother, Mary G. Kennedy, returned to her family home in Jackson, Mississippi where he lived until entering college when he was only 16 years old. Dick graduated from Millsaps College in 1950 at the age of 19 and entered the United States Navy. After he completed his military service, Dick moved to Texas where he worked on a ranch near Austin, Texas and attended graduate school at the University of Texas.One morning, in 1955 Dick met Shirley Borchers while waiting at a bus stop in Houston. They married on November 6, 1955 in Schulenburg, Texas. Dick and Shirley recently marked their 60th anniversary. While attending law school in Houston, a friend asked Dick to secure a signature on an oil and gas lease from a property owner. That was the beginning of a 40-year career as a landman. Dick was one of the first certified petroleum land men in the State of Texas.Dick and Shirley were active members of First Presbyterian Church of Houston where he served as a Deacon, Elder and Clerk of the Session. He and Shirley made many life-long friends in their Sunday School class, the Fellowship Class, which Dick served as President.Dick was preceded in death by his mother Mary Kennedy and oldest son, Richard W. Kennedy of Tyler, Texas.He is survived by wife, Shirley B. Kennedy, son Craig Kennedy, his wife Kathy and their daughter Kaitlyn, son Tom Kennedy, his wife Gayle and their children, Andrew, Peter and Mary Helen, daughter-in- law, the Honorable Christi J. Kennedy and grandson Kevin Kennedy. Our Dad's greatest joy in life was being a father to his children. He never had to say that to his boys, we always knew it. Our husband, father and grandfather will be missed, but our family does not despair because we are comforted by the promise of Dick's redemption which was paid in advance on the Cross.Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church Wednesday the 30th at 2:00 p.m.