Vernon, Marian 'Speck' Kennedy

OKOBOJI - Marian “Speck” Kennedy Vernon, 90, of Okoboji, passed away Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010, at the Milford Nursing Center in Milford.

She was born Feb. 3, 1920, in Estherville, Iowa, to Francis and Anna (Ford) Kennedy. Speck graduated from Estherville High School in 1937 and the University of Iowa in 1941. She was united in marriage to Robert Vernon on Sept. 18, 1945, in Estherville. Speck and Bob raised seven children from this union.

Speck was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She enjoyed spending her spare time playing bridge, cooking, playing tennis and participating in the Junior League Children's Theater in Cedar Rapids.

Speck is survived by her husband, Robert Vernon of Okoboji; two daughters, Susan Vernon Brigman of Dallas, Texas, and Sarah Vernon Koines and her husband, Art, of Bethesda, Md.; five sons, John Kennedy Vernon and his wife, Nancy, of West Des Moines, James Culligan Vernon and his wife, Patt, of Denver, Colo., Robert “Bo” Vernon and his wife, Terri, of Solon, Willian Shallcross Vernon and his wife, Monica, of Cedar Rapids, and Sam Vernon; a sister, Jean Brown of Iowa City; 17 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Jim Kennedy; and a sister, Margaret Kennedy.

 Memorial visitation will be held Friday, Sept. 17, from 5 to 7 p.m., with a vigil for the deceased at 6:30 p.m., at Schuchert Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake.

 In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Association.