Kenneth Mickens
Kenneth William Mickens, 86, of Sedalia, died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, at Bothwell Regional Health Center.
He was born December 1, 1925, in Garnett, Kan., a son of Jasper William and Louisa Pearl “Lula” James Mickens. On July 25, 1944, in Coeur d’Alene, ID, he married Ellen Jane Davis, who survives of the home.
Mr. Mickens was a charter member of Bethany Baptist Church, where he served as secretary, Sunday School teacher and sang in the choir. He was baptized at Calvary Baptist Church. He retired from the Missouri Pacific shops, where he was a carman. He also worked as a Deputy Sheriff for Pettis County. He also worked at Guardsman Security. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and archery.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving in the South Pacific on the USS Montrose as a signalman. He was a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2591. He was also an original member of the Civil Defense.
He was a 1943 graduate of Smith-Cotton High School and attended Hannibal-Lagrange College.
In addition to his wife of 67 years, survivors include three children, Mary Lou Black, of Columbia, Betty Ellen Schuster, and her husband, Ron, Winfield, IL, and Dr. Kenneth William Mickens II, and his wife, Kris, of Louisville, Colo.; nine grandchildren, James Black, Laetitia Craig, Jeff Black, Benjamin Black, Teresa Clarke, Phillip Schuster, Kenneth William Mickens III, Kassandra Mickens and Kaylee Mickens; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Ruth Franklin and Janice Naser, both of Sedalia; a brother, Harold Mickens, of Santa Rosa, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Jane Allen.
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Heckart Funeral Home, with the Rev. Craig Bowen officiating.
Casket bearers will be Randy Silvey, Jim Clark, Joe Clarke, Wayne Tucker, Harold Franklin and Jim Black.
Honorary bearers will be Carol Bremer, Leo Lewis, Michelle Smith, Arlene Silvey, Janice Tucker, Janet Clark and Judy Martin.
Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery, with honors by the U.S. Navy, VFW Post 2591 and the Pettis County Sheriff’s Department.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Heckart Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Bothwell Home Health and Hospice, in care of the funeral home.
Condolences may be offered at www.heckartfuneralhome.com.
