Kenneth Durham

Kenneth Lee Durham of Dublin, Texas, went to be with our Lord and Savior on the evening of Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, at the age of 81. He was born to Marvin Thomas Durham and Bessie Faye Monk Durham on March 28, 1942, in Gorman, Texas.

He is survived by his wife, JoyceElaineHensonDurham; daughter-in-law, Jodie Jean Durham Pish; daughter, Angela Carol Durham Weatherby and her husband, Bradley; daughter, Karren DeLynn Durham Rotan and her husband, Charles. He had six grandchildren: John Wesley Durham, Jennifer Caitlin Durham Miranda, Haily Michell Weatherby Streicher, Charles (Wes) Wesley Rotan III, and Aarren (Lainy) Elaine Weatherby. Kenneth and Joyce, along with Chuck and Karren, came to the aid of a beautiful African orphan through the Rafiki Foundation, and she has become a daughter to Karren and Chuck, as such, he leaves behind a grandchild in Africa, Emmaculate Tendo Namatovu. He also leaves 14 great-grandchildren and many surviving cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws. He was also blessed with many friends and acquaintances who thought fondly of him.

Kenneth is preceded in death by his father, Marvin Thomas Durham; his mother, Bessie Faye Monk Durham; his brother, Billy Marvin Durham; and his son, Jerry Thomas Durham.

Kenneth and Joyce were married Oct.24, 1964. He lived a life of adventure, being a man of the world but a country boy at heart. A lover of good food and drink, he was an amazing cook and famous for his award-winning smoked brisket.

He practiced metal art as well as the lost art of leather tooling, creating many beautiful works of art in both mediums. He was a talented welder and, for the majority of his life, made his living working on the pipelines, affording him the opportunity to travel and live across the United States and abroad. In an effort to stay close to home so that he could be the picture of a good husband and father, he tried other businesses but was always drawn back to the pipeline.

He retired in 2018 at the age of 76. Kenneth loved animals and was an avid hunter and fisherman, taking many hunting trips with friends and bringing home many trophies. His life was full. He loved God and this country.

He enjoyed old westerns, most sports, grandkids’ baseball and soccer games, documentaries about historical figures, and football, being an avid Cowboys fan and sticking with them win or lose. He may be gone from this world, but he will never be gone from the hearts and minds of those who loved him or those he loved.