Sharon (Force, Hembry) Kennedy, was born at home on May 26, 1942, in rural Worth County, Missouri, in the Fletchall Township to Clifford & Cleta Force. She passed away at age 83 on March 26, 2026, in Bentonville, Arkansas, with her sons at her side.
She was preceded in death by her parents Clifford and Cleta Force; her husband, Larry; her second child, Kerri; her brother-in-law John Essex; and her second husband Roy Kennedy.
She is lovingly remembered by her children, daughter, Sherri Wheeler of Mayflower, Arkansas; son, LJ Hembry of Bentonville, Arkansas; son, Barry Hembry of Kamiah, Idaho; sister and niece, Glenys Essex and Sara Essex of Independence, Missouri; brother, Alan Force of Mount Ayr; 13 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren, with three more on the way; 2 great-great grandchildren, and the rest of her family.
Sharon met Larry at the Baptist church in Mount Ayr. She sang in the choir, and his siblings teased him about the cute girl in the choir, telling him he should ask her out on a date. They married on June 4 th , 1960. Larry pastored several small churches in southern Iowa. Sharon worked a few office jobs as they moved around, and she played piano for church and for their gospel singing group, New Dawn Gospel Singers. The family moved to Bentonville, Arkansas in 1988. Sharon started work at the Wal-Mart Home Office, retiring after about 20 years. Larry passed in 1993.
Sharon spent the last 7 1/2 years at Gardens at Osage Terrace in Bentonville, where she enjoyed playing cards, taking walks, and joining in lively games of Bingo. She had a servant’s heart and a deep love for her family, which she expressed in countless ways—especially through the hand-knit blankets she lovingly made for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
She was a keeper of memories, carefully preserving the lives of those she cherished through beautifully detailed scrapbooks. Each page held moments of her children’s and grandchildren’s lives, complete with handwritten notes, dates, and loving reflections. She found great joy in revisiting these memories, recalling birthdays, milestones, and the many blessings of her family.
While Sharon deeply loved her family, what she held above all else was her relationship with Jesus Christ. Her faith was the foundation of her life. She prayed faithfully for each member of her family and continually gave thanks to God for them.
Sharon’s face would light up at the sound of her grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s voices, whether in person or over the phone. She leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, and devotion that will be treasured by all who knew her.
