Lavera Sue Kennedy, 85, died Friday, December 6, 2019, in El Reno, Oklahoma.

Born in Shattuck, Oklahoma on September 27, 1934; she was raised in Arnett, Oklahoma, with brothers, Wendell and Charles, by parents A.V. and Verna Bishop Chesnut. Mrs. Kennedy was a graduate of Arnett High School, the University of Oklahoma, Central State University, and received Montessori Education Certification from Oklahoma City University.

Mrs. Kennedy was an educator whose long career included teaching in Woodward Public Schools and her own Montessori Preschool, both in Woodward, Oklahoma; Anchorage Montessori School, Anchorage, Alaska; and as a Montessori Trainer at Boulder Montessori School, Boulder, Colorado; and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Southern Ute Reservation, Colorado. She also served as a Montessori Education Consultant for schools in Cleveland, Ohio; Portland, Oregon; Houston, Texas; and Seattle, Washington.

Mrs. Kennedy is survived by her daughter, Mary Kennedy Sine, son-in-law, Joseph E. Sine;
daughter-in-law, Sheila Z. Kennedy, and son-in-law, John R. Evans. Mama Sue, as she was affectionately called, is also survived by five grandchildren, their spouses, and children, Andrea Boedecker, Tiny and Gia; Matthew and Sarah Kennedy, Cecilia and Sean, Brian and Sarah Boedecker, Tommy and Abby, Aidan Kennedy, Sylas; and Justin Sine, Michael. Her extended family includes an aunt and a number of cousins, nieces, nephews and their families.

Mrs. Kennedy was preceded in death by her son, Michael Thomas Kennedy; daughters, Jana Sue Orr and Martha Kennedy Evans; and granddaughter, Jorianne Kennedy Sine.

Memorials may be made in Sue's name to the Regional Food Bank, P.O. Box 270968, Oklahoma City, OK 73137 or to your local food pantry to help children with food insecurity.

Graveside services will be conducted at Elmwood Cemetery on Thursday, Decemeber 12, at 1:00 p.m. Visitation will be available at Shaw Funeral Home of Vici on Monday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Tuesday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Wednesday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m, and Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. The family will be present to receive visitors from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.