Henry Lee Kiddy departed this life on July 27, 2024 at the age of 91 years, 4months, and 21 days. He was born on March 6, 1933, the youngest of James Robert and Suzanne Reeda Jane Moore Kiddy.
He married Dottie Faye Robinson on December 27, 1952 in Corinth, MS and she preceded him in death on December 25, 2006 after 54 years of marriage. He is survived by both his children: a son, Jackie Lynn Kiddy of Middleton, TN and a daughter, Pam Utley of Mt. Juliet, TN.
Until marriage, he lived in Lawton, TN area and was raised dirt poor with 5 siblings during World War II and the Great Depression. He is preceded by all his siblings – his beloved older brother, John William Kiddy and older sister, Ruby Kiddy Taylor, brothers, Robert Allen Kiddy and Odus “J.R.” Kiddy and sister Pearl Kiddy.
He worked as a ditch digger for Whalley Construction for 50 years, taking pride in showing up and working hard every day and “doing right” by his employer. Many days he would work until nearly dark – hard work, and then come home and work in his garden until well after dark.
He was an avid and skilled vegetable gardener, especially tomatoes, yellow squash and purple hull peas which he sold to neighbors for many years. He became known as the “tomato man.”
He had a stroke in 2003 which left him with an unusable right arm and minimal use of his right leg. Even so, he took care of himself and his wife who had Alzheimer’s until she passed away in 2006. He continued to live alone and take care of himself, his yard and garden for many years. Not long after his stroke, Jackson Sun ran a Sunday special in the newspaper telling about his garden and his extraordinary determination and effort to keep going and be independent.
In addition to tending his garden, he enjoyed Bluegrass music especially Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley, listening to Shop and Swap on the radio, and watching Westerns including his favorite – Gunsmoke.
