OSCEOLA — Charles Richard Kennemore, Jr.,
78, of Osceola, Ark., died Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020 at the NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro, Ark. Born May 11, 1942, he was a lifelong resident of Osceola.
Dickie Kennemore was a graduate of Osceola High School, where he played both basketball and football; and was a graduate of Arkansas State University where he earned a degree in business administration and economics. He owned and operated Kennemore Real Estate for more than 55 years. He started and built Triple “K” Inc., general contractors, into a viable construction firm; started and built Kennemore Insurance Agency into a successful property and casualty agency; and built and developed several residential subdivisions.
Kennemore’s grandmother and father helped start the Quinn Street Church of Christ, which later became the Osceola Church of Christ where Kennemore was a lifelong member. He was a man with strong faith and loved studying and sharing God’s word.
Always looking for opportunities to help make his hometown a better place, Kennemore won positions on both the Osceola School Board and Osceola City Council in 1986.
His children all attended and graduated from Osceola High School, and he was very involved as a parent and community member. For years he was the “Voice of the Seminoles” providing the play by play at the high school football games and on the radio.
In 1990, he successfully ran a campaign for mayor of his hometown. He retained that position for the next 28 years. During his time as mayor, the city expanded to include a new Justice Complex, Community Center, Senior Citizen Center, Animal Shelter, city lagoon and updated Riverport. As mayor, Kennemore also served for a number of years on the Osceola/South Mississippi County Chamber of Commerce. He was a longtime member of the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission, a member of the Mississippi River Cities and Town Initiative, Osceola Port Authority and Kiwanis Club.
Under his leadership, the city of Osceola landed numerous industrial partners including DENSO, Systex, Actagro, Kagome, SMS Solutions, Arkansas Steel Processing, Watco and Big River Steel, the largest industrial project in the state of Arkansas. Dave Stickler, CEO of BRS shared his condolences saying, “I heard from many people last evening with the news about my dear friend, Dickie. I can unequivocally say that without Dickie’s support and leadership, Big River Steel would not be able to proudly call Osceola home.” Kennemore also saw expansions at American Greetings and Walmart. He was instrumental in forming the Great River Economic Development Foundation and served as its chairman for a number of years. He was also very influential in changing legislation and the constitution to ensure all AIDC agencies function with more efficiency.
Over the years Kennemore received many awards including the Arkansas Economic Development Volunteer of the Year by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. He and Harold Ohlendorf are the only two recipients from Osceola to ever receive this award. After being nominated by Osceola Police Chief Ollie Collins, Kennemore was named Mayor of the Year by the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police. In January 2019, he was named an Honor Life Member of the Arkansas Municipal League.
Of all his accomplishments, Kennemore was the proudest of his family! He enjoyed traveling and scuba diving with his wife Jennifer. He spent many days and nights at softball fields, football fields and basketball gyms watching his grandchildren play their favorite sports. He owned a business with his son, Ken, and never missed an opportunity to spend time with his daughters, Kelly and Kristy, and offer solutions to any of their problems. One of his favorite places to be was on his brother Jimbo’s back porch solving all the problems of the world. He loved family and he cherished friends, and he found true enjoyment when he was able to help others.
He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Kennemore, Sr. and mother, Mildred Kennemore.
He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Kennemore, of Osceola; one son, Ken (Tiffany) Kennemore, of Osceola; and two daughters, Kelly (Brad) Belew, of Manila, and Kristy (Bubby) Latham, of Osceola.
He is also survived by three stepchildren, Blake (Stacie) McCormick, of Osceola, Jonathan Boatman, of Osceola, and Emily (Chris) Vaughn, of Osceola; one adopted son, Chico Fletcher, of Osceola; one brother, Jimbo Kennemore, of Osceola; one sister, Judy (Jim) Buck, of Murray, Ky. He had 11 grandchildren including baby Lexxton and four step-grandchildren; along with four fur babies, Sam, Jade, Dora and Abby.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, Brad Belew, Jr., Conner Belew, Daley Belew, Charles Kennemore, Lath Latham, Lexx Latham and Gavin Sullivan. Honorary Pallbearers will be Joe Harris, Ed Allred, David Gladden, Tommy Reese, Dave Stickler, Steve Purtee, Bobby George, Voy Gillentine, John Barclay, James Watson, Don Henry and Terry Watkins.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, from 4-8 p.m., at Wilson Funeral Home in Osceola. The funeral will be held Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, at 2 p.m., at the Osceola Seminole Football Stadium in Osceola. Burial will be held at Mississippi County Memorial Gardens in Osceola with Tom Steed, officiating. Due to Covid-19, masks are required and will not be provided. The family requests that everyone acknowledges social distancing.