Leona Belle Hoagland Kennedy, 93, a lifetime resident of the Stapleton community in Joplin, died Monday morning, July 14, 2014, at Webb City Health and Rehabilitation after a brief illness.
Mrs. Kennedy was born to Lucas and Mary Leona Shafer Hoagland on June 20, 1921, in Joplin. She was a student at Stapleton Elementary in Joplin. During the Depression, she attended Erie School in McDonald County and lived on a farm along Indian Creek. She was a 1940 graduate of Joplin High School. She was a member of Fairview Baptist Church, Joplin.
She married Wallace Thomas Kennedy on Nov. 21, 1942, in Joplin. He died on Aug. 15, 2000. They were married for 58 years. During World War II, they lived briefly at Peducah, Ky., where he worked at an explosives plant. They returned to Joplin after the war and built their home at 41st Street and Joplin Avenue in Stapleton.
In 1956, she was hired by the city of Joplin to be a crossing guard at Stapleton School. She would work “at the stop,’’ ushering children across South Main Street and then Hearnes Boulevard, for 48 years. No child was injured on her watch.
Surviving are a daughter, Sandra Sue Hughes, and her husband, Roger, Stella; a son, Wallace Leon “Wally’’ Kennedy, Joplin; four grandchildren, Shon Hughes, Broken Arrow, Okla., Holly Running-rabbit, Ward, Colo., Taylor Kennedy, Seattle, Wash., and Wyatt Kennedy, Joplin; three great-grandchildren, Hunter and Griffin Hughes, Broken Arrow, and Ella Wren Running-rabbit, Ward.
Also surviving is a sister, Anna Fay Moran, of Joplin.She was preceded in death by five brothers, Luke, Everett, Frank, Martin and Charles Hoagland.
Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Fairview Baptist Church, 4300 S. Joplin Ave. Services will follow at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. John Mitchell will officiate. Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.
A private graveside service will be held at Forest Park Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Shon, Hunter and Griffin Hughes, Holly Runnning-rabbit, and Taylor and Wyatt Kennedy.
Flowers are welcome. Memorial contributions may be made to the donor’s choice.
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