Richard Douglas (Dick) Kennedy passed away on April 14, 2026 at the age of 86.
Dick was born in Hamilton, Mont. on March 5, 1940 to William D. (Bill) and Thelma M. Smith Kennedy.
He was the oldest of three boys. Archie was 2 1/2 years younger and Delbert (Del) was 5 years younger. As the family grew, he had six nieces and nephews that he spoiled every change he could.
The family moved around the northwest to wherever work would take them. He lived in Hamilton, Mont., on the Oregon coast and in the Stanfield/Echo area. In 1971, Dick and his parents purchased a home in Stanfield and he lived there until September 2023.
Dick worked at a plywood mill in Toledo, where he met and married his first wife. They later divorced. After moving to the Stanfield/Echo area, he worked in farm construction building Quonset huts. He met his second wife while in this area and later divorced. His next job was working at the Umatilla Army Depot as a temp for seven years. After that ended, he went to work for the Stanfield School District as a custodian at the high school. He was there until his retirement in 1999.
He was married and divorced twice before finding his lifetime partner, Mary Burke. She made him happy and gave him purpose in life. They were together for over 30 years until her passing. Dick and Mary loved attending the many senior lunches in the county and attending any and all fiddlers contests they heard about. They loved going camping and fishing. Dick also enjoyed hunting in his younger years. He also loved to travel, visiting many places in this beautiful country. His “highlight” trip was going to Alaska. He talked about it for years.
Dick joined the Coast Guard in 1958. During basic training, he was given a medical honorable discharge. Dick was a charter and lifetime member of the Loyal Order of Moose Stanfield lodge.
Family was the most important thing to Dick. If you needed anything, he would be there to help. He never knew a stranger.
A celebration of life will be planned for this summer.
Please share memories of Dick at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
