Norma Kennedy

Norma Kennedy, 87, a 60 year resident of Fayetteville, Ark., passed away July 25, 2017 in Springdale. She was born August 17, 1929 in St. Louis, Mo. to James Clay Dolley and Lois (Dee) Dolley. In her early years, the family traveled cross country to Berkley, California for her father to complete his Ph.D. in Economics. Her father accepted a professorship in economics at the University of Texas. The family made their longtime home in Austin. A one year sabbatical took the family to Dallas where her father served as the V.P. of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Norma led an active social life in Austin and graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Home Economics. She swam competitively at UT and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. After college, Norma worked for the Texas state legislature. She married Robert E. Kennedy Jr. of Kilgore, Texas in 1952. They lived in Dallas where Norma served in many organizations and volunteered as a Red Cross driver. Back in Austin, after a year, she served as the President of the Junior Austin Women's Club. The family moved to Fayetteville in 1957 where Bob accepted a Professor of Finance position at the University of Arkansas. In Fayetteville, besides her mothering duties, she taught Red Cross swim lessons and served as PTA president multiple times. She found pleasure in cooking, sewing, antiquing, and tennis. Norma was instrumental in founding a new chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta at the U of A. She worked tirelessly to support the active members. A large part of her life was dedicated to P.E.O. Initiated in 1951 in an Austin chapter, she was very active in her local chapters, again, serving as president. Norma was on the Arkansas State Board of P.E.O. serving as every officer culminating in the presidency 1978-1979. She loved her P.E.O. sisters. Norma worked at World Wide Travel Agency planning travel for area people, university staff, and students, many foreign. Her tales of personal and client travel kept the family entertained for years. As a perquisite, she visited many resorts, took many cruises, and traveled to the Caribbean and Europe several times. Norma also wrote a question-and-answer article titled "Ask Endy Kaye" for the NW Arkansas Times. Contents ranged from Fayetteville road construction to science or cooking questions. Norma continued her love of the Texas hill country by serving as a camper, counselor, and office director at Camp Mystic. Even in latter years, this endless camper spent summers on the Guadalupe River, at camp, where she was the voice on the intercom. In 2011, Norma married her best friend, Leroy Pearce, after being together for three decades. They lived happily in Fayetteville until Leroy's death in 2014. Norma will be missed greatly by friends and family. She will leave an unimaginable void in the hearts pf all those that loved her. Her sense of humor, caring nature, and sense of gratitude for each day set a wonderful example for all. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leroy Pearce, and a son, Robert Edward Kennedy III. She is survived by two daughters, Karen Compton and husband Gary of Springdale, Ark. and Lauren Kennedy and husband David Foley of Frisco, Texas, three grandchildren, Alex Buckley, Jack Buckley and wife Paola, Barry and Robert Newell, and two great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held 9:30 a.m., Saturday, July 29th with the service beginning at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home with Revered Bruce Smithson officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville. Memorial contributions may be made to Washington Regional Medical Foundation, P.O. Box 356 Fayetteville, Ark. 72702 or the Humane Society of the Ozarks, 1020 1 Mile Road Fayetteville, Ark. 72704. To sign the online guest book please visit www.nelsonberna.com.