Michael Roger Kennedy, age 63, of Garnett, Kansas passed away on January 16, 2023 at home.
Mike was born on June 3, 1959, at Chanute, Kansas. He was the first of two children born to Howard and Maurine (Ashcraft) Kennedy. Mike graduated from Erie High School. Following High School, Mike worked on the family dairy farm as well as at the Anderson County Sales Company, Chanute Regional Stockyards, Alert Construction, and Beachner Construction.
Mike joined Ratliff Jerseys in Garnett, Kansas in 1992. There, he fed cattle, milked cows, and helped Al breed cows. He also helped manage a beef herd used to put embryo’s in. Mike was involved in getting cows ready for the shows, in addition to helping with the transportation and helping at the shows.
He had a big impact on the winning of the awards of Ratliff Jerseys. Mike helped get the only three time National Champion, Ratliff Price Alicia EX 95 ready. With Mike’s help, the herd won several Jug Futurity’s. Mike bred and owned Ratliff Dorie Dean Allie EX96, a Jersey Jug winner. Ratliff Jersey won many Premier Breeder and Exhibitor awards at World Dairy Expo and All American Louisville Kentucky.
In his free time Mike enjoyed going to Chiefs games, car races in Kansas City, fishing and deer hunting, and watching western movies. He also enjoyed driving country roads, looking for deer, and checking on cattle; he would often sit and watch the Brahma cow herd. Mike loved baling hay in the summers.
Mike had several nick names including Red and Crow. Christy called him her bird dog the last two years because he would find things while he was out driving around, he would then alert her to what needed attention.
He was preceded in death by his parents Howard and Maurine Kennedy.
Mike leaves behind a son Bryan Michael Kennedy of California, and his sister and brother in law Christy and Ron Ratliff.
Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 PM, Monday, January 23, 2023 at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, 219 S. Oak Street, Garnett, Kansas 66032. Memorials to the Mike Kennedy Memorial Fund (to sponsor Junior Classes at State and National Jersey shows) may be left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.