Kenneth Ray Jennings

Kenneth Jennings Passed away December 23, 2025

Kenneth was born in Roswell, NM, September 3, 1935 to Henry and Leona Jennings. He attended Roswell Schools until the family moved to Hagerman where he met his lifelong love Shirley Newsome Jennings. Kenneth and Shirley married in Farmington, NM near Shirley’s parents ranch in Durango, Colorado on July 23, 1954. The couple recently celebrated their 71st Anniversary.

Kenneth excelled in sports and played for the Hagerman Bobcats basketball team and the was on the track team. He was offered a full scholarship to play basketball for the New Mexico Military Institute but he turned it down to follow his love of farming.

Kenneth and Shirley moved to Carlsbad, NM where he worked in the potash mines and he was a member of the New Mexico National Guard. As a new married couple, they saved every penny to purchase a small farm east of Roswell. Kenneth quickly expanded his farming operation to include farms in Dell City, Texas, Dexter and Roswell. Kenneth farmed with his father Henry and his son Randy, with Shirley as farm office administrator and bookkeeper, a true family owned and operated farm business. Randy assumed the farm responsibilities and has carried on its operations as Henry passed and Kenneth’s health declined. Kenneth was an excellent business man and he served on the Farmers Co-Op Board of Directors. He also served on Roswell Production Credit Association Board of Directors for 32 years, retiring as chairman of the Board.

The love of Basketball led him to coach Little League Basketball, bringing in two Championships teams.

Kenneth made many friends during his farming career and was well respected in the farming community. Kenneth loved gardening which he tirelessly worked to produce a bounty of homegrown vegetables. He loved to share his harvest with friends and family.

Kenneth is survived by his wife Shirley Jennings, son Randy Jennings and his partner Beth Isler. His daughter Sondra Orta and her husband Mark Orta of Port Arthur, Texas. Granddaughter Stephanie Jordan and her husband Jared Jordan of Spring, Texas. Grandson Matthew Jennings and his partner Amanda Fambrough of Roswell.

The family would like to thank the special people at Casa Maria Nursing Home for the care and love shown Kenneth. Thank you to dad’s roommate, Mr. Anthony Archuletta for helping make his stay more enjoyable. The family would also like to thank Mark Tyler and Robert Buie for daily helping the entire family and then working the farm. Thank you, Mark Tyler, for stepping up and seeing to it that the farm operations were covered which resulted in a great harvest!

We would like to especially thank Beth Isler, Randy’s partner and family member, for her tireless hard work and devotion in taking care of the family’s needs.

There will be a graveside service held on December 29, 2025, at 1:00pm, at South Park Cemetery. Services are under the care of LaGrone Funeral Chapel and online condolences can be made at www.lagronefuneralchapels.com