Richard "Rick" Craig Kennedy

Richard Craig Kennedy (Rick), 75, of Olive Branch, Mississippi went to be with the Lord on October 7, 2024. He was born in Galveston, Texas on September 23, 1949. Rick was a Christian who believed deeply in his Lord and Savior. He is preceded in death in by his father, John Aleysius Kennedy, and mother, Doris Lou Massoni.

Rick grew up in Pasadena, Texas. He loved sports and playing baseball and golf with his father and younger brother, Jeff. He was an excellent student and graduated from Sam Raburn High School. In high school, the only baseball pitcher to ever pitch him out was the legendary Nolan Ryan. After high school, he was drafted to the New York Mets. After six months and a shoulder injury in the rookie league, he left, attended college for two years, worked different jobs, including at his father's place of employment, and found his calling in the steel business.

He worked as a steel salesman for several very well-known companies. Each one a steppingstone as he acquired the knowledge and expertise that led him down his career path. Rick was very well known and highly respected in the steel industry. He spent the last 27 years of his career as the Plant Manager for Brown-Campbell Company in Memphis, Tennessee, a specialty steel manufacturer, fabricator, and distributor, headquartered in Shelby Township, Michigan.

Rick had several hobbies, one of his favorites being that of golf. He loved to play whenever possible with his father and brother. Also, he looked forward to a good round and annual tournaments with his friends/customers Frank, Howie, and Rusty.

Rick also loved music and to hear his wife sing and see her perform. It was this, and being the salesman that he was, that led him to become a band manager for several of the bands his wife performed with in Memphis and the surrounding area. One band in particular, the Memphis Def Tonz, he booked and managed for 18 years. It was of the utmost importance to him to make his wife's love of singing and entertaining a dream come true.

Rick and Marilyn were married on November 6, 1993. They were inseparable and did everything together. They had no children except for their first fur babies, Spook (10), Quigley (18), and Poss (17), and present fur babies, Katniss (11), Peeta (11), and Lloyd (10-1/2).

Rick leaves to cherish and honor his memories his loving wife, Marilyn, his brother, Jeff (Plano, TX), brother-in-law, Will, and his wife, Lisa (Hernando, MS), closest friends, Angela and Scot (Olive Branch, MS), and a host of other friends who knew and deeply loved him.

Family and friends will gather from 1:00 p.m. until a Celebration of Rick's life begins at 2:00 p.m. and fellowship and reception will follow from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. all at Brantley Funeral Home, 6875 cockrum Street, Olive Branch, Mississippi, 38654.

The family requests any donations in Rick's honor be sent to the American Cancer Society.

Online condolences, floral tributes and directions may be found through www.brantleyfuneral.com