Kenneth Ray Michael passed away Sunday November 14th, 2021 at Fireside House of Centralia, IL at the age of 84. Kenneth was a workhorse starting in the oil fields in Taylorville, IL then working many years at Ray Packing company in Centralia until its closing. He and Anita were then owner-operators of Kendall Cleaners until his retirement. He loved woodworking and spent many hours in his workshop creating many family heirlooms, grandfather clocks, furniture, and cradles and toys for his grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 11:30 AM at the Zion Hill Baptist Church in Centralia. Burial will follow at the Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Centralia. Visitation will be held Thursday morning from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital or the Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery Fund and will be accepted at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home 235 North Sycamore Street Centralia, Illinois 62801, (618)532-3523, who is honored to be of service to the Michael Family. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.sutherlandfuneralhome.com and the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home Facebook Page.
He is survived by two sisters, Donna Jones and husband Bill of Knoxville, TN, Marla Southers and husband Kent of Collinsville, Illinois. He was married to Anita Queen for 62 years and together they had two daughters, Katherine Niepoetter and husband Jeff of Centralia, IL and Michele Brown who resides with her husband Chris in Tullahoma, TN. Grandchildren are Jason Niepoetter and wife Heather of Centralia, Jonathan Niepoetter and special friend Melissa O’Connor of Centralia, Megan Ferrell and husband William of Tullahoma, TN, and Jennifer Jones of Tullahoma, one great-granddaughter, Isabell Ferrell and many nieces and nephews.
He was born Sept 1, 1937, the son of James Clifford Michael and Ruby Russell in rural Marion County, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers Charles Clayton Michael and Gary Michael.
