The Rev. Lawrence Neal Kennedy Funeral services for L. Neal Kennedy, 97, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, December 11, 2008, at the Epworth United Methodist Church in Chickasha.Neal Kennedy was born February 22, 1911, in Mineral Springs, Arkansas, the son of Thomas Alvis and Mary Young Kennedy. He died peacefully December 5, 2008 in Duncan. Neal came to Pocasset as a young man. He attended and graduated from Pocasset public schools and later served many years on the Pocasset School Board. Neal was an active 64 year veteran of the Pocasset Masonic Lodge. Neal Kennedy married Murlene Davidson on February 18, 1934. They had four sons and enjoyed 71 wonderful years of marriage. After they were married, Neal purchased land and began his career as a farmer and dairyman, south of Chickasha. In 1939 they moved to Pocasset. Following several years as a successful wheat farmer, he purchased the Kaiser-Frazier dealership in Chickasha. After a few years in that business, he concentrated on his wheat farming and dairy business again. For years, he did custom harvesting, stretching from Texas to Canada every summer. Neal was also known for his farm pond construction business. Northern Grady County is still dotted with farm ponds Neal built. At mid life, Neal was called to the ministry. He left farming, and prior to pursuing his ministerial studies, purchased the Telephone Exchange of Bradley, Oklahoma, where he also served his first church at the Bradley United Methodist Church. In 1960, he moved to Winfield, Kansas where he completed four years of ministerial studies at Southwestern College, preparing for his full time ministry as an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church. After retiring from his career as a minister, Neal and Murlene moved to Chickasha where he revived the Frisco Avenue United Methodist Church. Neal accumulated several rental houses during his retirement. He also enjoyed helping Murlene with her Shaklee business. Both Neal and Murlene stayed very involved with Epworth United Methodist Church and its activities.Neal was preceded in death by both parents, four brothers, Alvis Kennedy, Leroy Kennedy, Charles Kennedy and Thomas Jr. Kennedy, three sisters, Katy Roubinek, Florence Montgomery and Junita VanSickle. Neal is survived by one sister, Chloie McFall, of Bellaire, TX and one brother Bob Kennedy of Tahlequah, OK. Also surviving are four sons and daughters-in-law: Lawrence and Helen Kennedy, of San Angelo, Texas, Carl and Janis Kennedy, of Seneca, South Carolina, Dean and Ilona Kennedy, of Friend, Oklahoma, and Charles and Vivian Kennedy, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; twelve grandchildren and twenty-four great grandchildren.Interment will be in the Fairlawn Cemetery under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.