Clarence Everett Kendall Jr.

CLARENCE EVERETT KENDALL, JR., 93, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, the 15th of April 2014, in Houston. Born in Oak Park, Illinois on the 17th of May 1920, to Clarence and Geneva Kendall, he moved to Pittsburgh as a child and then on to Houston following his extensive service to country and academic education.

Ken graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School in Pennsylvania and the University of Missouri. He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He commissioned ensign USNR and went to Midshipman’s School in Chicago, Illinois December 1942, obtaining the rank of Midshipman Battalion Sub-Commander and served aboard a destroyer at Guadalcanal and the invasion of New Georgia. Ken then served aboard the U.S.S. Essex December 1943 to August 1945. While on active duty, he attained the rank of Senior Grade Lieutenant and received thirteen of eighteen battle stars given in the Pacific Theatre.

Following his time in the service, he took graduate work in Accounting at the University of Pittsburgh, and graduated from the University of Texas in Austin School of Law, joining the legal fraternity of Phi Delta Phi. Ken then received his Masters in Tax Law from New York University. In addition, he was a 32nd Degree Mason, Scottish Rite, Shriner, and Member of Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Ken met the love of his life, Faye Branson, and they married on the 29th of March 1944, entering into 70 years of marriage. In his long and professional career, Ken practiced law at Fullbright and Jaworski until retirement age, and then practiced at Beirne, Maynard & Parsons until retirement.

Survivors include his wife, Faye Kendall; sister-in-law, Martha Lott; nephew, Carter Lott, niece, Madeline Lott Masterson and her husband, Drew; great-nephews, Drew and Blake Masterson, and great-niece, Kendall Masterson.

The family would like to thank Dr. James Ferrendelli, Dr. Heinrich Taegtmeyer and caregiver, Veronica Pacheco for their extraordinary care of Ken.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Friday, the 18th of April, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A funeral service is to be conducted at ten o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 19th of April, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons.

A private family interment will be held at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery in Austin, where he will be laid to rest with military honors accorded by a Navy Honor Guard.