Dr. Kenan Kay Kennamer

Dr. Kenan Kay Kennamer, 82 of Abilene, passed away at his home and into the loving arms of Jesus on Sunday, April 3, 2016. Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 5, 2016, at 2:00 p.m., in the chapel of Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street. Following the service, there will be a short time to visit with the family before they depart for a private family burial.

Ken was born on June 18, 1933, in Abilene to Oma and Clyde Kennamer, educators who moved around to serve the needs of students in small West Texas towns. Ken graduated from San Angelo High School in 1950 and continued his education at Abilene Christian College. It was there he met the woman he would share the rest of his life with, Retha McCuistion.

Ken graduated from ACC on August 27, 1954, married Retha four days later, and then was drafted into the United States Army. Their first years together were spent living in a small trailer in Killeen and Leesville, Louisiana.

Shortly after his two years in the Army, Ken began medical school at UT Southwestern in Dallas. He graduated in June 1961, second in his class. With his medical degree in hand, Ken took up his second passion: flying. In college, Ken's hobby was building and flying model planes and now he wanted to do it for real. He enrolled in flight school and earned his wings in August of 1964.

It was during this time that Ken and Retha moved to Hearne, Texas where Ken practiced family medicine for 34 years before moving to Abilene. Here, Ken worked another 13 years as an emergency room physician at Abilene Regional Hospital.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Oma Kennamer. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Retha, and their three daughters: Debra Chester and husband Philip, Sharon Bryant and husband Kirk and Dana Pemberton and husband Glenn, as well as 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

The family has requested that NO flowers be sent, due to severe allergies. Instead, the family asks that donations be made in Ken's honor to the Christian Service Center in Abilene.

Condolences can be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.