Melvin Kennon - Killeen High School 1972

Melvin Hoover Kennon Jr. was born in 1952 in Cristóbal, Canal Zone, Panama to parents Carmen Irene Vargas (1932 - 2020) and Melvin Hoover Kennon (1929 - 2003). He had three sisters, Debra, Denise, and Desiree Kennon. His father was born in North Carolina and his mother was born in Spain. As a baby, he arrived in the United States at Ellis Island in 1953 from San Cristobal. Melvin grew up in Texas and lived most of his life in Harker Heights and Killeen, Texas. Melvin married Lillian Louise Brunelle, and together they had two children: Jaqlyn Victoria Kennon and Kristen Kennon. Unfortunately,, Melvin's life ended tragically when he drowned while fishing with his mother. Melvin accidentally dropped his cell phone into Stillhouse Hollow Lake and lost his balance while trying to retrieve it. His mother witnessed him come up for air once before submerging again. A nearby fisherman noticed the incident and called for help. Emergency responders searched for Melvin's body from early morning to sundown, and the search continued the following day. His body was finally recovered from the water where he initially fell in. An article about the incident was published in the local paper on the day his body was found, which can be found at Man's body recovered from Stillhouse Hollow Lake. Melvin H. Kennon Jr.'s obituary was also published in the local paper and can be found at Melvin H. Kennon Jr: Obituary.