Clyde Hamrick Kennedy, co-founder of Kennedy Groves, died August 20, 2013 at her home. She was born May 21, 1920, in Aucilla, FL, the daughter of Florida pioneers John and Bessie McEntire Hamrick who moved to the Wabasso area in 1925. Clyde was a fourth-generation Floridian.
She graduated from Vero Beach High School and attended the University of Tampa Business College. She worked in the citrus industry all her life, beginning as a packer at Deerfield Groves. There, she met Tom Kennedy and they were married in 1946. As partners with Tom's brother, Purnell, and his wife, Nannie Lou, they founded Kennedy Groves. Assisting their efforts in the beginning was Tom and Purnell's uncle, Indian River pioneer Frank Ayers. Their first place of business was a palmetto shack on North US 1 in Vero Beach. In 1949, Kennedy Groves moved to a new building on South US 1. The family continued expanding in the retail and gift fruit shipping business at that location until 1991 and was recognized as one of the leading gift fruit shippers in Florida. In the early years, Clyde packed all the orders and made the juice. As the business grew, she assumed administrative duties and made sure the packing staff maintained her high standards. Her outgoing personality won her many friends who often stopped by her office to visit with her and her little dog, Charlie. She will be remembered as an active member of The Pilot Club of Vero Beach. Clyde always enjoyed spending time with her large extended family of nieces and nephews who gave her the nickname "Peachie." While family was dearest to her heart, and work took most of her time, Clyde's passion was travel. She was always planning her next trip to see the far-away places she read about and she continued to travel well into her eighties.
Clyde was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Rochelle Kennedy, and nine sisters and brothers.
She will be remembered and cherished by her many nieces and nephews in both the Hamrick and Kennedy families.
Services will be Tuesday, August 27, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. followed by the service at 11:00 a.m. in the Strunk Funeral Home Chapel in Vero Beach. Interment will follow at Winter Beach Cemetery.
Donations may be made to the Indian River County Citrus Museum, 2140 14th Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32960, the Humane Society of Vero Beach, PO Box 644, Vero Beach, FL 32961 or the charity of one's choice.
An online guestbook is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.
Published in the TC Palm on August 25, 2013
She graduated from Vero Beach High School and attended the University of Tampa Business College. She worked in the citrus industry all her life, beginning as a packer at Deerfield Groves. There, she met Tom Kennedy and they were married in 1946. As partners with Tom's brother, Purnell, and his wife, Nannie Lou, they founded Kennedy Groves. Assisting their efforts in the beginning was Tom and Purnell's uncle, Indian River pioneer Frank Ayers. Their first place of business was a palmetto shack on North US 1 in Vero Beach. In 1949, Kennedy Groves moved to a new building on South US 1. The family continued expanding in the retail and gift fruit shipping business at that location until 1991 and was recognized as one of the leading gift fruit shippers in Florida. In the early years, Clyde packed all the orders and made the juice. As the business grew, she assumed administrative duties and made sure the packing staff maintained her high standards. Her outgoing personality won her many friends who often stopped by her office to visit with her and her little dog, Charlie. She will be remembered as an active member of The Pilot Club of Vero Beach. Clyde always enjoyed spending time with her large extended family of nieces and nephews who gave her the nickname "Peachie." While family was dearest to her heart, and work took most of her time, Clyde's passion was travel. She was always planning her next trip to see the far-away places she read about and she continued to travel well into her eighties.
Clyde was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Rochelle Kennedy, and nine sisters and brothers.
She will be remembered and cherished by her many nieces and nephews in both the Hamrick and Kennedy families.
Services will be Tuesday, August 27, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. followed by the service at 11:00 a.m. in the Strunk Funeral Home Chapel in Vero Beach. Interment will follow at Winter Beach Cemetery.
Donations may be made to the Indian River County Citrus Museum, 2140 14th Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32960, the Humane Society of Vero Beach, PO Box 644, Vero Beach, FL 32961 or the charity of one's choice.
An online guestbook is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.
Published in the TC Palm on August 25, 2013
Clyde Hamrick Kennedy, co-founder of Kennedy Groves, died August 20, 2013 at her home. She was born May 21, 1920, in Aucilla, FL, the daughter of Florida pioneers John and Bessie McEntire Hamrick who moved to the Wabasso area in 1925. Clyde was a fourth-generation Floridian.
She graduated from Vero Beach High School and attended the University of Tampa Business College. She worked in the citrus industry all her life, beginning as a packer at Deerfield Groves. There, she met Tom Kennedy and they were married in 1946. As partners with Tom's brother, Purnell, and his wife, Nannie Lou, they founded Kennedy Groves. Assisting their efforts in the beginning was Tom and Purnell's uncle, Indian River pioneer Frank Ayers. Their first place of business was a palmetto shack on North US 1 in Vero Beach. In 1949, Kennedy Groves moved to a new building on South US 1. The family continued expanding in the retail and gift fruit shipping business at that location until 1991 and was recognized as one of the leading gift fruit shippers in Florida. In the early years, Clyde packed all the orders and made the juice. As the business grew, she assumed administrative duties and made sure the packing staff maintained her high standards. Her outgoing personality won her many friends who often stopped by her office to visit with her and her little dog, Charlie. She will be remembered as an active member of The Pilot Club of Vero Beach. Clyde always enjoyed spending time with her large extended family of nieces and nephews who gave her the nickname "Peachie." While family was dearest to her heart, and work took most of her time, Clyde's passion was travel. She was always planning her next trip to see the far-away places she read about and she continued to travel well into her eighties.
Clyde was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Rochelle Kennedy, and nine sisters and brothers.
She will be remembered and cherished by her many nieces and nephews in both the Hamrick and Kennedy families.
Services will be Tuesday, August 27, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. followed by the service at 11:00 a.m. in the Strunk Funeral Home Chapel in Vero Beach. Interment will follow at Winter Beach Cemetery.
Donations may be made to the Indian River County Citrus Museum, 2140 14th Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32960, the Humane Society of Vero Beach, PO Box 644, Vero Beach, FL 32961 or the charity of one's choice.
An online guestbook is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.
Published in the TC Palm on August 25, 2013
She graduated from Vero Beach High School and attended the University of Tampa Business College. She worked in the citrus industry all her life, beginning as a packer at Deerfield Groves. There, she met Tom Kennedy and they were married in 1946. As partners with Tom's brother, Purnell, and his wife, Nannie Lou, they founded Kennedy Groves. Assisting their efforts in the beginning was Tom and Purnell's uncle, Indian River pioneer Frank Ayers. Their first place of business was a palmetto shack on North US 1 in Vero Beach. In 1949, Kennedy Groves moved to a new building on South US 1. The family continued expanding in the retail and gift fruit shipping business at that location until 1991 and was recognized as one of the leading gift fruit shippers in Florida. In the early years, Clyde packed all the orders and made the juice. As the business grew, she assumed administrative duties and made sure the packing staff maintained her high standards. Her outgoing personality won her many friends who often stopped by her office to visit with her and her little dog, Charlie. She will be remembered as an active member of The Pilot Club of Vero Beach. Clyde always enjoyed spending time with her large extended family of nieces and nephews who gave her the nickname "Peachie." While family was dearest to her heart, and work took most of her time, Clyde's passion was travel. She was always planning her next trip to see the far-away places she read about and she continued to travel well into her eighties.
Clyde was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Rochelle Kennedy, and nine sisters and brothers.
She will be remembered and cherished by her many nieces and nephews in both the Hamrick and Kennedy families.
Services will be Tuesday, August 27, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. followed by the service at 11:00 a.m. in the Strunk Funeral Home Chapel in Vero Beach. Interment will follow at Winter Beach Cemetery.
Donations may be made to the Indian River County Citrus Museum, 2140 14th Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32960, the Humane Society of Vero Beach, PO Box 644, Vero Beach, FL 32961 or the charity of one's choice.
An online guestbook is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.
Published in the TC Palm on August 25, 2013
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