James Carl Kennon's Obituary
James Carl Kennon, 95, passed away August 22, 2014. He was born on June 14, 1919 in Nashville, TN to Catherine Cunningham and Emmett Noel Kennon, Sr. He was a U.S. Navy Pilot in WW II and the Executive Vice President/Attorney over the Trust Department of National Bank of Commerce. James was known as Jim to most, Jimmy to some, but his most beloved nickname was “Pots”, a name created for his first grandchild as he danced a jig in the kitchen with a pot on his head. Jim attended Middle Tennessee State University where he was the editor of the school newspaper. It was at MTSU where he met Mildred, his wife to be. During WW II, Jim joined the Navy and was selected to be a pilot. While on active duty, he flew medical transport missions. He served most of his time in the South Pacific, and returned as a flight instructor at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, FL. Leaving the service with the rank of Lieutenant, Jim remained a reservist for his entire adult life. Jim moved his family to Memphis and began his career in banking, achieving further degrees from Rutgers University and graduating cum laude from the Southern College of Law, later teaching Contract Law. In 1975, Jim was named National Bank of Commerce’s First Vice President and served as President of the Tennessee Bankers Association. Jim and Mildred have lived life to the fullest, loving their family, a huge circle of friends and church. Their friends at Highland Church of Christ are family to the Kennons. Some of their happiest times were spent at “the Happy House” on Pickwick Lake. Jim’s love of the water and boating runs deep in every member of the Kennon family. Jim’s greatest legacy is his family. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mildred Batton Kennon; children, Carl Batton Kennon, Sr. (Jill), Carol Kennon Wood (David), and Mildred Kennon Rogers (Bill); grandchildren, Leslie Kennon Herrle (Paul), Carl Batton Kennon, Jr. (Mandy), Charles Daniel Askew (Rachel), James Kennon Askew (Stephanie), Joshua Kennon Rogers (Hännah), Eric Spencer Rogers, and Katie Leigh Rogers; and great-grandchildren, Nick Herrle, Emmy Herrle, Lily Kennon, Elinor Rogers, and Rowan Askew. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Monday, August 25 and funeral services will be 1 p.m., Tuesday, August 26 at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery. Burial will immediately follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. The family requests that donations be sent to the charity of the donor’s choice. The Kennon family would like to express their sincere gratitude to all of the staff at Kirby Pines and Job’s Way for their care and kindness. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, “Behind the Stone Wall.”
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