Obituary of Kenneth D. Jett

Kenneth Dewayne Jett was born November 13, 1930 in Tecumseh, Oklahoma to Samuel Joseph and Ruby Agnes (Thompson) Jett. Kenneth was the oldest of 10 children. He graduated from Quail High School in Quail, Texas in 1950. He was drafted into the Army during the Korean War and served in Germany from 1950 to 1953. On September 4, 1953 in Wellington, Texas he married Lillian Fern Neeley. For the 68 years of their marriage, Kenneth and Fern lived and raised their families across many midwestern states. Starting their lives together in Hobbs, New Mexico where Kenneth worked the oil and gas pipelines. Then they moved to Denver City and McCamey Texas where Kenneth worked for Shell Oil Company. While in Denver City Kenneth and Fern also ran a local RV park. During those years they also had three of their four children (Joni Luann, Ray Gene and Neva Faye). In 1963 they moved to Twitty, Texas and shortly after moved to Lutie, Texas where the family lived on a dirt farm and Kenneth opened his own blacksmith shop. They had their last child, Andy Wayne, while living in Lutie. In 1967 the family moved to Middlewater,Texas where Kenneth worked on a large cattle ranch. In 1969 the family moved to Branson, Colorado to work the S&S Ranch along the Purgatory (Picketwire) River. In 1973 after Joni Luann graduated from high school in Branson the family moved to Wyola, Montana where they lived and worked on another large cattle ranch with over 2500 head of cattle. Soon after they moved to Wheatland, Wyoming and worked the Two Bar Ranch. This is where their second child, Ray Gene, graduated high school and then the family moved shortly after to Eagle, Colorado. In Eagle the family lived on and worked a cow and calf operation until 1976 when they moved down the mountain to the eastern Colorado plains to the JOD Ranch near Wild Horse, Colorado. This is where their third child, Neva Faye, graduated from high school in Kit Carson. The family ran the JOD Ranch until the owners sold the ranch in 1981. For the following year the family lived and worked on the Bledsoe Ranch also near Wild Horse before moving to Syracuse, Kansas in 1982. In the 38 years they lived in Syracuse, Kenneth worked for various feed yards and cattle and farming operations before retiring and spending much of his retirement doing day work, running dairy samples to the USDA offices or helping out at the sale barn or fairgrounds. While in Syracuse their youngest child, Andy Wayne, graduated high school. In 2020, after Kenneth and Fern’s health began to fail the family moved them to Limon, Colorado to be closer to family. Kenneth passed away on October 28th at the Lincoln Community Hospital in Hugo, Colorado. He will be buried at the Evergreen Cemetery in Hugo. Kenneth was the quintessential American cowboy. He could ride any horse, heal any cow, fix any fence, grow any crop, calm any child, and love most his one and only. Growing up on horseback and living his best life when doing the same gave him a heart built for both good times and rough. He taught his children work ethic not by word but by action. He built respect by his service to his family and friends. He built a home – wherever he lived – through the labor of his hands and the integrity of his word. Kenneth showed his care and devotion to his wife, his children, and his community each day he awoke. Now that he has passed he gathers the cattle aboard his best horse and turns to smile to his love and wishes her the best until they see each other again to sit on the front porch and welcome their friends and family. Kenneth is survived by his wife Lillian Fern (Neeley) of Limon, four children and spouses – Joni and Alvin Kelly (Hugo, Colorado), Gene and Kelly Jett (Scott City, Kansas), Neva and Stephen Heffler (Pueblo, Colorado) and Andy Jett and Brad Ozias (Lenexa, Kansas), 11 grandchildren – Dana and Les McDaniel, Allen and Crystal Kelly, Sarah and Matt Blanski, Amanda and Aaron Anderson, Jessica and Jarrod Caudle, Hank and Virginia Jett, Ronald Heffler, Kyle and Kayla Heffler, David and Emma Heffler, Katie and Tyler Rea and Samantha Jett, 20 great grandchildren – Darius and Ashlee Johnson, Dasia McDaniel, Cyrus McDaniel, Trinity and Nosh Scroggs, Destiny Moses, Baylee Kelly, Rylee Kelly, Brentley Kelly, Lily Blankski, Jude Blankski, Ella Blanski, Timber Medina, Jacob Caudle, Alexis Jett, Elizabeth Jett, Levi Jett, Faith Heffler, Noah Pratt, Jaiden Heffler, and Katherine Heffler along with 2 great-great grandchildren Koda Johnson and Addison Johnson. In lieu of flowers donations to the Limon Ambulance Service, PO Box 374,Limon, CO 80828, or Hamilton County Kansas Library P.O. Box 1307, Syracuse, KS 67878,would be appreciated. .