Fred Kennedy

Harold Fredrick Kennedy Jr., 85 years old, of Boise, Idaho, passed away on Thursday, August 10, 2023.

                At Fred’s request, no funeral services will be conducted, and his ashes will be spread on a mountain overlooking the cabin in Featherville he and his family had for almost 40 years, as close as possible to where the ashes of his wife Patty were spread in 2017. 

                Fred was born on February 17, 1938, at Rio Tinto, Nevada, the son of Harold and Gail Kennedy (Gail Forest Green).  Fred attended grade school, junior high and high school in Mountain Home, graduating from Mountain Home High School in 1956.  Fred attended and graduated from the University of Idaho, where he was a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity.

                Fred married Patty Scofield, a classmate of his in the Mountain Home schools, on January 3, 1959, and Fred and Patty moved to Moscow, Idaho, where Fred resumed his studies at the University of Idaho.  The family then moved to Washington D.C., where Fred attended George Washington University Law School, while serving on the staff of U.S. Senator Frank Church.  Upon graduation from law school, the family moved back to Mountain Home in 1963, where they lived and raised their family for the next 7 plus years while Fred practiced law and served as the Elmore County Prosecuting Attorney.  In 1971, the family moved to Boise, where they resided for the next 30 years.  During that time, Fred served as a Deputy Attorney General under Attorney General Anthony Park and practiced law in several law firms. In 1991, Fred served as a legal advisor to the senior management of SCP Global Technologies, a high tech manufacturing company.  In 2000, Fred and Patty returned to live in Mountain Home and at their cabin in Featherville.  In 2002, Fred was elected to serve in the Idaho State Senate, representing Boise and Elmore Counties, serving on the Agricultural Affairs, Health and Welfare, Resources and Environment committees, and the Legislative Council. 

During the early years of their lengthy marriage, Fred and Patty had three lovely children, Tammy, Teresa and John.  While the children were growing up and attending schools, Fred and Patty, along with their three children, spent a significant amount of time in the mountains at the family cabin in Featherville.  After retirement, Fred and Patty lived in Featherville at the family cabin, and later in Arizona and Texas. After Patty lost her battle with cancer in 2017, while living with their daughter in Texas, Fred returned to live in Boise until January 2023 when he moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming.

                Fred always enjoyed giving to his family, friends and others in need, rather than receiving.  His greatest love was his wife Patty of nearly 59 years, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  He will be sorely missed by all of them, and by other relatives and his many close friends.

                Fred was preceded in death by his mother and father, his sister Julie Garcia, his wife Patty, his daughter, Tammy Kennedy Zehner, and by his grandson, John L. Kennedy.  Survivors include his two children, Teresa Kennedy of Tyler, Texas, and John Kennedy, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, his sister, Jo Black, of Mountain Home, seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and several nephews, nieces, and cousins. 

                Memorials may be made to the Idaho Youth Ranch or to the charity of your choice.