Kenneth “Pete” Frances Davenport, 83, son of John and Opal Davis Davenport, was born April 18,1930, in an old log house on his Grandpa and Grandma Davis’ property at old Success. Kenneth passed away April 10, 2014, at his home in Houston with his family by his side.
He grew up in Success, Mo., and attended Gladden School for seven years where he walked two miles each day there and back.
Kenneth married Vivian Haney on April 21, 1951, at Salem, Ark. They had three children. They lived and raised their family at Bucyrus for 33 years and were longtime members of Bethel Chapel Church. They moved to Houston in 1993.
In his early years, Kenneth worked at International Shoe Co. and Brown Chevrolet Garage in Houston. He worked as a mechanic for 16 years at the Post Exchange Garage in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He was also a rural mail carrier a few years and later retired from Texas County Memorial Hospital after working several years in the maintenance department.
His greatest enjoyments were seeing his children and grandchildren. He could always make you laugh with some of the stories he would tell or sharing whatever came to his mind.
The hobbies he enjoyed the most was restoring and painting old pickups and selling them. He loved watching NASCAR racing and going fishing. He particularly enjoyed his fishing trips with his family and brother-in-laws.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Clarence; and five brother-in-laws, Barney Richards, Gene Floyd, Robert Haney, Robert Gunter and Bobby Hargis.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Vivian, of the home in Houston, Mo.; two sons, Gary Davenport and wife, Diane, of Marshfield, Mo., and Randy Davenport and wife, Paula, of Nixa, Mo.; a daughter, Deanna McKinney and husband, Cecil, of Houston, Mo.; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and five sisters, Nina Hargis of Dixon, Violet Herndon and Lovella Gunter of Houston and Shirley Gunter and Gigi Richards of Success.
In the mid 60s, Pete was saved at a revival at Bethel Chapel Church. He truly believed Heaven to be a better place to live than this earth and would say, “Dying is not goodbye, it’s I’ll see ya later.”
Because of the love for their grandchildren, the first four honorary pallbearers were their granddaughters, Randi Lynn, Destiny, Chasity and Kelly; pallbearers: Heath Davenport, Clint Young, Ryan McKinney, Cecil McKinney, Rex Wilson, Dakota Davenport, Harold Haney and Leon Haney; followed by honorary pallbearer, great-grandsons, Chris, Brian and Colton and great-granddaughters, Halley, Emily, Mariah, Reagan, Sophie, Maddi, Addyson and Alleah; great-great-grandchildren, Emma and Levi; and one special person, Shelby.
Services were 3 p.m. Saturday, April 12, 2014, at Evans Funeral Home. Burial was in Oak Hill Cemetery.
The family requests contributions be made in his honor to Texas County Hospice of Care.
PAID
