Cecil Kinder, 72, of Traverse City, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on Sun, Nov 16, 2014 at his home in Traverse City, surrounded by his loving family.
Cecil was born on Jan. 19, 1942 in Newtown, West Virginia to the late Andy and Nannie (Chafin) Kinder. Cecil was a direct decedent of the legendary Hatfield clan, as the great grandson of Ellison Hatfield. The Hatfield heritage was very important part of his life and something he loved to share with those who asked. Cecil went to grade school in Newtown and high school in Red Jacket, West Virginia.
He had several talents; excelling in spelling, baseball, basketball, and boxing. His love for sports continued in his adult life earning him a distinguished award for first place catcher in a Detroit baseball league.
Cecil left West Virginia and found his way to Michigan where he worked at Grace Hospital as an orderly, he later went to welding trade school, which lead him to a job at Cadillac Motor Car.
When the riots of Detroit took place, he chose a better life for his family and moved to Traverse City where he worked at Burwood Products for more than 20 years. After Burwood closed down he took a job at Century Specialties where he worked until retiring in 1995.
On Nov. 23, 1963 he married the love of his life Bonnie Snyder in Newtown, West Virginia. Together they lovingly raised three daughters.
Cecil enjoyed hunting, boating, fishing, dancing, horseshoes, snowmobiling, and feeding the birds and squirrels. He had several special pets and had a true love for nature and all its beauty. For each child and grandchild he proudly planted special trees in their honor. With his green thumb they were the biggest and most beautiful trees, consistently watered and fertilized with love. Cecil also enjoyed watching old westerns, classic movies, listening to blue grass, gospel and country music.
Cecil was a devoted member of ‘recovery’ lifestyle. Cecil was a good friend and encouraged others to take their own path to recovery. He was an exceptional teacher of the ‘recover lifestyle’ philosophy. He was always a person who was nonjudgemental, that genuinely listened and cared. His incredible ability to make you laugh and his natural talent to tell a great story was a gift that he had mastered. His loving smile, generous nature, and true love for the human race will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Cecil was truly one of a kind.
Surviving Cecil is his wife Bonnie of 50 years; children, Deborah (Jeff) Hamilton of Traverse City, Linda Kinder of Traverse City, Theresa Kinder of Long Beach, California; grandchildren, Cody and Halee Hamilton; brothers, Darrell (Anetta) Kinder of Dearborn, Michigan, Joe Kinder of West Virginia, Dan (Joann) Kinder of West Virginia, Reese Kinder of Tennessee and several other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Edith May Hinkle, Sara Jane Lester, Lon Kinder, Malcolm Kinder, John Thomas Kinder, and Bobby Ray Kinder.
Visitation for Cecil will take place from 4pm to 8 pm on Thur, Nov. 20,2014 at the Reynolds-Jonkoff Funeral Home with a celebration of life at 7pm. Funeral services will take place at 10 am on Friday, also at the Reynolds, Jonkhoff Funeral Home.