Nancy Caroline Beaver-Kennedy, Michelle Jeanette Burthay
Nancy Caroline Beaver-Kennedy
Nancy Caroline Beaver-Kennedy, age 72, of Kokomo, Indiana, passed away on Thursday, May 29, 2025. She was born April 10, 1953, in Kokomo to the late Daniel and Betty Beaver.
Nancy spent much of her early childhood helping around her family’s business at Beaver Lodge Mobile Home Park in Kokomo. In her early years, she loved traveling with her family in their family travel trailer when the business would allow.
Despite nearly losing her life in a motorcycle accident when she was 16, she graduated from Northwestern High School in 1971 with the help of a special radio system that her friends carried around the school on her behalf. She walked at graduation.
She obtained a B.A. in Fine Arts and Photography with a minor in Anthropology from Indiana University, Bloomington, in 1981. It had been her goal to photograph anthropological dig sites and cultures for National Geographic, but her passion for photography led her west, where she worked as one of the managers at Producers Photo Lab in Los Angeles. She specialized in color correction, photo retouching, and a wide range of photography services. There, she had an opportunity to meet many celebrities and cultures, which she loved. At that time, Producers was the largest photography lab of its kind in the country.
She married Michael R. Kennedy on February 9, 1986, and they remained married for 20 years. He preceded her in death. Despite her love for Los Angeles, Nancy and Michael decided to relocate with their two small children back to their hometown of Kokomo, Indiana, in 1992. Nancy managed Rack-Em, a large billiards and game hall in Kokomo, IN, for several years in the ‘90s, until early 2000. Not many years later, she began working as a curator at the Elwood Haynes Museum in Kokomo, Indiana, where she worked until she retired in 2012. She was also the event coordinator for the Elwood Haynes Birthday Celebration and Car Show for several years.
She was also a member of the Pioneer Auto Club and volunteered in organizing car shows, fundraisers, and parades for the club for many years as well. Nancy had a warm spirit and infectious laugh. She was quite talented at public speaking and often volunteered her time and historical knowledge to events and educational programs with car clubs, historical societies, and private collection owners, locally and as far away as the east coast. She loved teaching and educating about history and how best to care for historical artifacts. It was her true passion.
Nancy loved to travel and had the opportunity to visit all of the lower 48 states, several foreign countries, cruises, and even toured Mayan ruins. At one time, she had visited every national park in the lower 48 states as well. Her favorite regions were the west coast, the Rocky Mountains, and here in Indiana at the Indiana Dunes State Park, where she spent every summer vacationing with her family and children. She often invited her friends and family to join in her passion for the outdoors. She loved camping especially and never missed an opportunity to chat around a campfire. “It’s just not summer until you have dipped your toes in Lake Michigan,” she used to say.
Nancy also loved to dance and was known to inspire others to “always get up and dance.” Despite her physical disability, she also loved riding her mountain bike with her family at many of the Indiana State Parks, as well as picnicking and spending a day at the beach. She loved water in all forms.
Nancy actively inspired everyone around her to love others and strive for grace. She served as a deacon at the same church she had attended since childhood, Northview Christian Church, of Kokomo, Indiana, for many, many years. She also attended Barbee Christian Camp for many years in her childhood. She loved outdoor ministry.
She never missed an opportunity to live life to its fullest, and she believed that no one else should, either. Her loss will be deeply felt by many.
Nancy is survived by her children Cassandra Kennedy (Joshua Francis) and Troy Kennedy as well as three grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by her brother Jeffery Beaver.
A visitation for Nancy will be held Tuesday, June 10, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Ellers Mortuary, 3400 S. Webster Street, Kokomo, IN 46902, followed by a funeral service at 12:00 PM.
Michelle Jeanette Burthay
Michelle Jeanette Burthay, 61, of Kokomo, passed away on June 4, 2025, at her residence. She was born on October 17, 1963, in Toledo, Ohio, to the late Anton Henderson and Judith McCoy.
Michelle graduated from Western High School in 1982. She worked for General Motors as a Director of Human Resources. Michelle was an avid PC gamer and enjoyed traveling to Florida to visit her son, Matt. Michelle had two cats, Sansa and Tango, whom she loved very much.
Michelle is survived by her son Matthew Burthay, mother Judith McCoy, sister Cynthia (William) Harmon, and nephew Jordan (Gina) Hopkins.
She is preceded in death by her father Anton and her stepfather Donald McCoy.
Family will have a private event at a later date.