Obituary
Obituary for Our Beloved Mother
Rethea W. Kearney
November 25th, 1953 -December 3rd, 2019
Daytona Beach, Florida
Rethea Walker Kearney, Age 66, made her final transition from this life and passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019.
Mom was born on November 25th, 1953 in Marion, South Carolina and was raised in Lumberton, North Carolina during her childhood. In 1972, as a young adult, she moved to Jersey City, New Jersey, and was employed as a medical records secretary at the hospital located there. It was at this hospital where she met her future husband, John J. Kearney, and they were married on June 12th, 1975.
Mom had 2 daughters from a previous relationship- and Dad loved and cared for both girls as his own. Mom went on to have 2 more children- both boys who were also well loved and cared for. Mom and Dad were together for over 44 years-through sickness and health, happiness, and the daily challenges of raising a family of 4 children.
We all traveled to Erlangen, Germany, where Dad was stationed in the Army. Mom so loved to travel- and she really loved being a military wife! We also all lived in Georgia, Texas and Upstate New York. Mom loved art and was very gifted and creative. She loved to sing to us children and listen to all types of easy listening music-she loved to take us children to the parks to enjoy the beauty of nature and the outdoors. Mom also was a wonderful cook who could make an awesome meal of fried chicken and collard greens.
But most of all, Mom was the ultimate optimist- she saw life as a wonderful adventure and just being around her made your life so much better for having known her. Mom was one of a kind! She was very easy for everyone around her to love. Our only regret was that, sadly, we just did not have enough time to really love and enjoy her beautiful soul! Mom will be very much missed but not ever forgotten!
Mom was predeceased by her mother, Pearl Walker and father, LaMarr Stackhouse, both of Lumberton, North Carolina; and by her late sister-in-law, Bridget Kearney.
Mom is survived by her loving and loyal husband John J. Kearney, of Daytona Beach, Florida, her sons, J.J. Kearney (Peggy Sue), also of Daytona Beach, Florida and Francis Kearney (Kandi) of Bradenton, Florida, Sherie Turpin (James) of Baltimore, Maryland, and Peaches and Dwayne McCullough of El Paso, Texas. Mom also has 15 wonderful grandchildren: Skyler, Maddie, Joclyn, Tiara, Olivia, Charlotte, Jeremy, Allyiah, Alyssa, Miranda, Lillian, Abigail, Chyenne, Kierra and Logan.
***Will update this information on funeral and memorial arrangements***
And in place of flowers, donations can be made in Mom’s memory to Alzheimer’s Research Organization.
Mom and Dad
Our Family
Mom and her Sister
Rethea and John Kearney