Ida Belle "Myrt" Kennedy Block
Ida Belle Kennedy Block, age 84, passed away on Sunday, April 1, 2007 at her home in Buna, Texas. To many, she was known as "Myrt." Ida Belle was born in McNeil, Mississippi on October 13, 1922, to Mollie and Charlie Kennedy.
During her teenage years, the Kennedy family lived back and forth between McNeil, Mississippi and Nederland, Texas depending on the work situation. She graduated from high school in McNeil, and on one of the trips to Nederland, she met the love of her life, Lawrence Otis "L.O." Block. On May 9, 1942, they married and were together for the next 62 years.
During the years of World War II, Otis served in the U. S. Navy and Ida Belle worked to support the family by delivering furniture for Haizlip's Furniture in Nederland. The war ended and in 1952, Ida Belle and Otis, who now had two daughters, moved to Buna to operate a dairy farm. Later on, after retiring from the dairy business, the two also opened and operated the L. O. Block Construction Company that contributed to the construction of many Southeast Texas overpasses and hurricane levees.
Upon retirement from the business world, Ida Belle pursued her love of gardening and oil painting and together, she and Otis traveled the world and visited every corner of the United States and Canada. After many years of traveling around the country in their motor home, they found a special place in Yuma, Arizona. It became their second home, and for 13 years the Blocks maintained two homes - six months in Buna, Texas and six months in Yuma, Arizona.
The love Ida Bellc had for her family was never-ending. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Charles, who was killed in World War II. Her husband, Otis, passed away in 2004. She is survived by two daughters, Carolynn Reneau and husband Danny of Buna, Texas, and Kathy Eitel and husband Dean of Yuma, Arizona. She is also survived by six; grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Other survivors include two sisters and two brothers, Jeannette Stewart and husband Wayne of Lumberton, Mississippi, Louise Boyd and husband John of The Woodlands, Texas, Smith Kennedy and Marvin Kennedy and wife Pam of Queen City, Texas. Also very dear to her heart were sister-in-law. Alta Fletcher and brother-in-law, W. T Bock, both of Nederland.
Pallbearers will be Kevin Reneau, Keith Reneau, Ted Eitel, Ray Glover, Kaylon Petty, and Bryan Adams. Cody Reneau and Rex Fletcher will serve as Honorary Pallbearers.
A gathering of friends and family will be from 5 - 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at Broussard's Mortuary, 505 12th Street, Nederland, TX. The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, 2007 at Broussard's Chapel in Nederland with Reverend David Foster officiating. Immediately following the service, interment will be at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches.
