Kenneth R. Pye

A funeral service for Kenneth R. Pye, 91, of Rusk, is scheduled for 2 p.m., Saturday, October 12, 2024, at First Baptist Church in Rusk with Bro. Lee Welch officiating.  He will be laid to rest at McKnight Cemetery in Cushing under the direction of Autry Funeral Home, Jacksonville.

Kenneth was born on Apil 29, 1933, in Cushing, to John Henry Pye and Nora Leona Beard and passed away on October 6, 2024, in Coppell.

Kenneth proudly served in the Army during the Korean war from 1953-1955.  He met and married the love of his life, Lily M. Haddad, from El Paso, in 1955.  He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from SFA University in 1957 and went on to teach at North Shore Jr. High School (1957-1962).  He later went on to earn his master’s degree (MEd) in 1960 at the University of Houston and became the Principal at Shadydale Elementary School; N.E. Houston ISD Jr. High Principal at Kirby Jr. High (1962-1966); N.E. Houston ISD (later N. Forest ISD) (1967-1969).  He went on to be Superintendent of Magnolia ISD (1969-1974) and then Crosby ISD (1974-1979).  Kenneth retired from teaching in 1988 after working at Deer Park ISD for 10 years.

In his retirement years, Kenneth was a member of First Baptist Church, in Rusk.  He was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed cars and boats.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, and son-in-law, Ed Loucks.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 69 years, Lily M. Haddad Pye; sister, Carolyn and Jerry Garrett; daughter, Kennette Kay Loucks; and son, Andy Charles and Norma Pye; 7 grandchildren, Athena and Tim Herzinger, Adam and Margaret Loucks, Andrea and Brandon Lankford, Kathryn and Sean Cassidy, Sarah and Robby Cannon, Joseph Pye, and Andrew and Annie Pye; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Adam Loucks, Tim Herzinger, Brandon Lankford, Joseph Pye, Andrew Pye, Sean Cassidy, Robert Cannon.

Honorary pallbearers will be the men’s Sunday School Class: Steve Christopher, Ed Hassell, Jim Bob Griffin, Tommy Jones, Dan West.