Ned Allen Kessler

January 29, 1948 - June 6, 2022

Ned Allen Kessler, 74, of Edmond, Oklahoma, was born January 29, 1948, to parents John and Maxine Kessler. Ned peacefully passed from this life while surrounded by his loved ones on June 6, 2022, and his body and mind were made whole in the presence of Jesus. Ned was born and raised in Edmond. He attended Edmond Public Schools from Kindergarten until his high school graduation from Edmond High School in 1966. He completed the rigorous requirements for the honor of Eagle Scout, and he loved any opportunity to be outside. He was a lover of open spaces and mountain valleys, where he spent as much free time as possible with friends and family. Ned also had a deep love and appreciation for music and played the saxophone and 12-string guitar exceptionally well. During his high school years, he excelled in track and field which led to an athletics scholarship at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College from 1966-1968. He received his undergraduate degree in Music from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. While there, he served as the 16th Pistol Pete where he was a natural at entertaining the crowds and cheering on his beloved Cowboys. Ned earned a Master’s degree in Education from Northwestern Oklahoma State University. After college, Ned returned to his hometown of Edmond and established his career in insurance. He met his wife, Jenonne Horne, at Nichols Hills Baptist Church, and they were happily married on November 26, 1977. Ned was a proud father of three and a tireless champion of his children’s goals and ambitions. His love of music, travel, and the outdoors lives on in each of them. He was also a proud grandfather of eight grandchildren. He loved each of them dearly and was known for his uncanny ability to “dance” a crying baby to sleep. Ned loved his family fiercely and was a faithful friend to many, He was known for bringing a smile to people’s faces with one of his many jokes or corny handshakes that he always kept on hand. He had a contagious laugh and pitch-perfect whistle that could make anyone smile. Ned and Jenonne enjoyed traveling, serving and sharing the Gospel on international mission trips, visiting friends and family, and attending OSU games near and far away. They were active members of Redemption Church in Edmond. Ned also was a faithful member of Bible Study Fellowship for many years. Ned battled Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), a progressive and degenerative brain disease, for more than a decade. While FTD greatly affected many areas of his life, it did not change the love that flowed out of him through music, being outdoors, and spending quality time with his friends and family. Ned was preceded in death by his parents, John and Maxine Kessler, also of Edmond. Ned is survived by his faithful and loving wife, Jenonne; daughter Lindsay (Dustin) Ash of Enid, OK; son Zane (Lucy) Kessler of Carbondale, CO; daughter Hayley (Cody) Diffee of Edmond, OK; his beloved grandchildren Ethan Ash, Elliot Ash, Evalyn Ash, Ezra Ash, June Diffee, Jack Diffee, Wyatt Kessler, and Annie Diffee; and many other relatives and dear friends. The Kesslers will welcome friends and family at Crawford Family Funeral Services in Edmond on Friday, June 10th from 6-8pm. A Celebration of Life will take place at Redemption Church (meets at Cheyenne Middle School) at 2:00pm on Saturday, June 11th. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Autumn Leaves of Edmond and Alara Caring Hospice for all their loving care as well as his faithful friends that visited him regularly. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing in Ned’s honor towards Redemption Church (RedemptionOKC.com/give),The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (theaftd.org), or the OSU Pistol Pete Scholarship Fund (OSU Alumni Association, Attn: Nick Barlow). Redemption Church https://www.redemptionokc.com/give/ The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration https://www.classy.org/give/381228/#!/donation/checkout