Charles Richard Kennedy

CHARLES RICHARD KENNEDY, 65 LAKELAND " Charles Richard ""Dick"" Kennedy, 65, of Lakeland, died July 31, 2014 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born November 22, 1948 in Washington, D.C., the son of the late Phillip F. and H. Dorothy (Simmons) Kennedy. He was a 1967 graduate of Assumption Preparatory School in Worcester, Mass. While there he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He received a bachelor""s degree from Florida Southern College in 1983. He received his certification as a physician""s assistant from the University of Florida in 1976. He served honorably in the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army Reserves for 17 years. Throughout his life, Mr. Kennedy provided medical care to many Lakeland area communities through his work as a physician""s assistant. He especially enjoyed the challenges presented in emergency room medicine. Mr. Kennedy moved to Florida from the New England area many years ago and settled in Lakeland in 1978. Through the years he became involved in the Lions Club, Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center, and worked as an auxiliary deputy for Polk County Sheriff""s Office. He also served as president of the New Hampshire Physician""s Assistant Association. He is survived by wife Cathy Maready Kennedy, his daughter Kimberly (Mrs. Jack) Jeffares of Lakeland, two sons, Jonathan R. Kennedy (Jennifer) of Oviedo, Jeremy Maready (Heather) of Lakeland and niece Morgan Lambert Beck (Mrs. Luke) and their two daughters. He was blessed with nine grandchildren, Jackson, Miles, Drew, Cole and Owen Jeffares, Isabelle and Harper Kennedy, and Thomas Hunter Jones and Emily Maready. He also leaves behind sisters Patricia Snow of Miramar, Susan Peterson (Mrs. Kenneth) of Bedford, New Hampshire, T. Michael Kennedy (Dani) of Coppell, Texas and many nieces and nephews. He often recalled that the happiest times of his life were fishing and visiting their cottage in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and support staff of Lakeland Regional Medical Center for their dedicated care and support during the many months of Dick""s illness. His family will gather to remember him and lay him to rest alongside his parents in Allenstown, New Hampshire. Local services will be held at First United Methodist Church 72 Lake Morton Dr, Lakeland, FL 33801, Monday, August 25, 2014, at 4 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675. Service: 08/25/2014 First United Methodist Church 72 Lake Morton Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801