Tennie Kennedy Cade

Tennie Jane Kennedy Cade, 91, of Stonewall County, Texas, went to her heavenly home on February 13, 2025. A true pioneer and the rock of her family, Tennie dedicated her life to raising children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in the ways of farming, ranching, and country life. She was immensely proud of her heritage, often captivating those around her with stories of her childhood and the work that it took to settle a homestead. She believed deeply in the values of hard work, honesty, and resilience—values she instilled in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Tennie was born at home on the ranch in Stonewall County, Texas, on July 30, 1933, to A.P. (Parker) and Lota Kennedy. She spent most of her adult life on the Kennedy homestead, the same land her grandparents settled, and was still living there at the time of her passing. For the first six years of her life, the Kennedy family lived in a two-room house that relied on gutters to carry rainwater to a hand-dug cistern, where water was drawn by hand. She often laughed about their “fancy” outhouse, which was an upgrade for the time. Though she and E.W. spent five years on his family’s homestead in Kent County early in their marriage, they eventually returned to the Kennedy home place, where they built a life and raised their family. The youngest of two daughters, Tennie quickly became “the son.” She worked alongside her father, plowing and feeding livestock with a team of mules, hand-mixing cattle feed, gathering cattle and cutting and bundling red top cane. She took great pride in ranch life, often recalling cherished childhood memories in her own writings: "Family dinners at Bampa and Bama’s, forty-two, rabbit and prairie dog hunts, milking the cows, eating frog legs, Daddy throwing a snowball at Mother, tasting snuff, swimming in the tank, Daddy’s mules, Daddy and me getting pitched off, and trading work with the Smiths, Branches, and Baughs. And, of course, the dances at neighbors’ houses or the Tabernacle. "She loved going to town on Saturdays in their Model T and Model A Coupe. In 1938, the Kennedy family built a house two miles north of Rotan and “moved to town” so that Tennie and her sister Betty could attend school in Rotan while still enjoying a country lifestyle. Tennie graduated from Rotan High School in 1950 and was offered a rodeo scholarship to Sul Ross State University in Alpine. She often joked that "E.W. got real serious when he figured out I was heading to Alpine." E.W. Cade was the love of her life and the two were married on August 20, 1950 in Peacock, Texas, in the home of Brother North. After living on E.W.'s family homestead in Kent County for five years, they moved back to the Kennedy home place in Stonewall County, where they built a home and raised their three children: Susan, Mike, and Terri. Tennie and E.W. were true partners in life and in work. They ranched side by side, working hard to build and sustain their operation. Whether it was working cattle, hauling feed, or hoeing cotton, Tennie was always right there. When work needed to be done, she did it with strength and grit .E.W. and Tennie dedicated their lives to farming and ranching, raising their children with a deep respect for hard work, a love for animals, and an appreciation for the joys of country life. The couple loved taking kids and grandkids to the lake, Ruidoso, Parker and Lota’s ranch in Colorado, rodeos, and horse races. But most of all, they loved to dance. Tennie was an exceptional dancer and never missed a chance to two-step or waltz. Long after E.W.'s passing in 2000, she continued to attend dances anywhere within a hundred-mile radius—until she finally stopped because, in her words, "I outlived all my dancing partners. "After both their husbands passed, Tennie and her sister Betty became as close as they were in childhood, often running to surrounding towns to browse, attending grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s events, and a weekend trip or two to Ruidoso. She remained fiercely independent until an "incident" in 2021, when she backed into Susan’s pickup. Afterward, she decided to stop driving—except for trips to Rotan, Aspermont, Hamlin, and Snyder. "Those don’t count," she insisted. Known as “Mom” by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and their friends, Tennie never missed an event. She drove thousands of miles to watch her family play sports, show animals, perform in plays, and dance on stage. Even at 91, she was still attending stock shows, proudly watching her great-grandson at a show in Rotan. Tennie was known for her honest dealings, her sound advice (whether solicited or not), and her unwavering presence. She loved her family, her friends, good livestock, a fine horse, and a beautiful country view. She believed in hard work, never backing down from a challenge, and always showing up. Tennie was preceded in death by her beloved and devoted husband, E.W. Cade, Jr.; her parents, A.P. (Parker) and Lota Kennedy; her sister, Betty Helms-McCright; her brother-in-law, Charlie Jo Helms; and her cherished son-in-law, Joe Perales  .She is survived by her children, Susan Perales, Mikeal Cade and wife Lisa, and Terri Daws. Tennie was a proud grandmother to Katy Sepeda and husband Joey, Clay Cade and wife Katy, and Ty Daws and wife Whitney. She adored her great-grandchildren, Jackson Sepeda and wife Alisa, Cooper Sepeda, Piper Sepeda, Parker Cade, Nora Cade, and Beau Daws, and was blessed to know her great-great-grandson, Ace Sepeda. She was also survived by friends Carroll Greenway-Holland, Sue Branch, and all of her neighbors in the Wright’s Chapel area .Her family finds comfort knowing that she is now reunited with E.W. and those she loved—likely dancing under a wide-open Texas sky or riding a fine horse across green pastures. Her legacy will live on in the land she loved, the stories she told, the memories we all cherish, and the family she nurtured. Her presence will forever be felt in the fields she once walked, the barns she once worked, and most importantly, in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.  Tennie always said, "Flowers are for the living." In keeping with her wishes, in lieu of flowers, send flowers to someone you love or make a donation to West Texas Rehab in her memory.