Obituary for Kenneth Warren Winters
Kenneth Warren Winters, age 79, of Maynardville TN passed away Friday, February 11th, 2022 at Foothills Transitional Care and Rehabilitation in Maryville. Kenny grew up in Maynardville where he attended Horace Maynard High School, graduating in 1960. He moved to West Virginia in his 20’s where he lived for twenty-five years. He moved back to Maynardville in the mid-90’s and lived there until his passing. Preceding him in death was his father, Raymond Winters, his mother, Ida Cooke Winters, his brothers, Edward and Raymond and his extended family, Dr. Joseph and Mary Jessie Ricketts.
He is survived by his children, Mingo, Maranda, Matoaka, Siobhan and Liam. His cousin, Mary Lee Vining, his x-wife, Dr. Abigail Winters, his grandchildren, Gabe, Charlie and Brighid, his extended family, Dr. Joseph Ricketts and Sandy Ricketts and his best friend, Jim Steiner.
Kenny was a very colorful, intense and totally original human. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his 30’s. If you knew him, you knew what it was to love him through his highs and be saddened by his lows. But when he kept the darkness at bay, he shined bright enough to light up the world. First and foremost, he was Irish and owned it like no other. He was a fierce defender of the Catholic Church, the Pope, and the World Series. He loved The Tennessee Volunteers, The Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and any underdog in the fight.
He loved travel and experiences. He’d have lunch at a five-star restaurant and dinner in the dingiest dive bar down the street. He loved to cook and made chicken Spaghetti every Saturday night and brunch before mass every Sunday morning. After mass, he and the priest would be at the kitchen table drinking wine and getting his young children to try oysters for the 50th time. He was quite skilled with words and could talk his way into anything he wanted. Fully booked restaurants, no problem for a table. Getting a pilot to delay a flight because he needed to take a phone call. You got it.
He also cared deeply about helping those less fortunate and taught his children this value. There was always an extra seat for whoever needed it at our Thanksgiving table or an extra anything for whoever needed it for that matter. He was the life of every party. You knew you were going to have a blast if Kenny was there. Fun conversations, Monty Python ministry of walks. He would even break into song if the notion struck him. Everyone loved him. He was a complex individual, but he was loved near and far. We take comfort in knowing Kenny is now at peace surrounded by light forever more.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 1 P.M. Saturday, February 19, 2022 at Saint Teresa of Kolkata Catholic Church. 3445 Maynardville Highway, Maynardville TN 37807. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery, 220 Highway 61, Maynardville, TN. Arrangements by Cooke-Campbell Mortuary, Maynardville.
He is survived by his children, Mingo, Maranda, Matoaka, Siobhan and Liam. His cousin, Mary Lee Vining, his x-wife, Dr. Abigail Winters, his grandchildren, Gabe, Charlie and Brighid, his extended family, Dr. Joseph Ricketts and Sandy Ricketts and his best friend, Jim Steiner.
Kenny was a very colorful, intense and totally original human. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his 30’s. If you knew him, you knew what it was to love him through his highs and be saddened by his lows. But when he kept the darkness at bay, he shined bright enough to light up the world. First and foremost, he was Irish and owned it like no other. He was a fierce defender of the Catholic Church, the Pope, and the World Series. He loved The Tennessee Volunteers, The Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and any underdog in the fight.
He loved travel and experiences. He’d have lunch at a five-star restaurant and dinner in the dingiest dive bar down the street. He loved to cook and made chicken Spaghetti every Saturday night and brunch before mass every Sunday morning. After mass, he and the priest would be at the kitchen table drinking wine and getting his young children to try oysters for the 50th time. He was quite skilled with words and could talk his way into anything he wanted. Fully booked restaurants, no problem for a table. Getting a pilot to delay a flight because he needed to take a phone call. You got it.
He also cared deeply about helping those less fortunate and taught his children this value. There was always an extra seat for whoever needed it at our Thanksgiving table or an extra anything for whoever needed it for that matter. He was the life of every party. You knew you were going to have a blast if Kenny was there. Fun conversations, Monty Python ministry of walks. He would even break into song if the notion struck him. Everyone loved him. He was a complex individual, but he was loved near and far. We take comfort in knowing Kenny is now at peace surrounded by light forever more.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 1 P.M. Saturday, February 19, 2022 at Saint Teresa of Kolkata Catholic Church. 3445 Maynardville Highway, Maynardville TN 37807. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery, 220 Highway 61, Maynardville, TN. Arrangements by Cooke-Campbell Mortuary, Maynardville.