Thomas Joe ‘T.J’ Kendrick Sr.
Thomas Joe “T.J.” Kendrick Sr., 85, of Llano died Feb. 21, 2012. He was born in Llano County on Sept. 27, 1926, to Jody and Vera Kendrick.
He married Hazel Brooks Click in Llano on March 7, 1946.
He farmed and ranched in Llano and Burnet counties while growing up. He worked as a livestock truck driver until 1952 and then was hired by Phillips Petroleum Co. in West Texas, where the couple raised four children.
He was a volunteer firefighter for 30 years in Rankin, where he also was a member of the Church of Christ. He was a little league baseball coach and supporter of his children’s other activities.
In 1984, he retired from Phillips after 32 years of service. He and his wife spent the next several years traveling the country and camping in their travel trailer. Her declining health curtailed their travel, so in 1999, they moved to Abilene where he was her constant caregiver until her death in 2001.
He began the next chapter in his life in 2002 when he married his and his wife’s longtime friend Maxine Hoy in Llano. The couple made their home in Llano and traveled for several years until his health began to decline.
His greatest joys in this life were his family and traveling.
Survivors include his wife Maxine Kendrick of Llano; sons Joe Kendrick and wife Margaret of Midland, Roy B. Kendrick and wife Ellen of Brownfield, Lynn Hoy and wife Betty Sue of Llano and Billy Hoy and wife Dianne of Llano; daughter Johnnie Sue Wright and husband Ed of Lawn; grandchildren Amy, Jason, JoDee, Jordan, Heather, Hillary, Clint, Erin, Heather, Tammy, Bradley and Sarah; and great-grandchildren Dylan, Kylee, Baily, Brayden, Abi, Adilyn, Audrey, Micah and Grady.
He was preceded in death by his first wife; son Dee; grandchild Kristopher; great-grandchild Cade; and best friend J.L. Hoy.
A service is 2 p.m. Feb. 23 at Waldrope-Hatfield-Hawthorne Funeral Home, 307 E. Sandstone in Llano with the Rev. Rick Cundieff officiating. A graveside service is 1 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Rankin Cemetery in Rankin.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Holden Uganda Foundation, P.O. Box 1101, Snyder, TX 79550.
Condolences may be sent to whhfuneral1@verizon.net or made at www.whhfuneralhome.com.