Floyd "Gene" Kennedy passed away peacefully August 16, 2017 surrounded by family and loved ones. Gene was born September 23, 1941 in Ryan, Oklahoma. He was the youngest of nine children. He was raised in Electra, Texas where he graduated from highschool, never missing a day of his public education career. After high school, he worked in the oil fields and Midland Iron Works and was drafted for Vietnam in 1964.  While stationed at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, WA he met and later married his wife, Judy. Gene was a welder at the Naval shipyards in both Bremerton and Whidbey Island for 25 years and finished the last 10 years of his working career as a Federal Firefighter for the Naval Base on Whidbey Island.        Gene had a love of traveling and animals. He loved going camping and seeing new places.  Gene also enjoyed building things out of both metal and wood. He and his wife built and ran a concession business from the ground up to fund their daughters' college educations. Gene was also a member of the Mount Vernon Knights of Columbus.        Gene leaves behind many loved ones including his wife of 51 years, Judy Kennedy, three daughters, Julie Lodjic, Sandy Joyce, and Becky Johnson, 10 Grandchildren, Niece Pearl Griffin-Churchman, and a brother Bob Kennedy of Olalla, WA.          A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at 12:15 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Mount Vernon, WA. Memorials can be donated to Human Life of Sedro Woolley, WA.  Arrangements are under the care of Hawthorne Funeral Home, Mount Vernon, WA.