Lee Roy Kidd

KIDD, Mr. Lee Roy - age 86, passed away, Monday, June 8, 2015 at Boulevard Health Center of Rochester Hills. Family hour 10:30AM Tueday, June 16, 2015 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 268 N. Perry St., with Memorial service commencing immediately at 11:00 AM.Bishop Kenneth Anthony, Officiating. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home 10:30 AM Tuesday. There will be no public viewing. Mr. Lee Roy Kidd was born in 1928, in Mobile, Alabama, the son of Georgia Bettis and Robert Kidd. He was later blessed to have a second father, Mr. Charles Malone Sr., who loved and embraced him as his own. On June 8, 2015, following two major strokes, God sent Angels to usher Lee Roy into Heaven. Raised by his grandparents, Katie and Milton Bettis while his mom studied and worked, he remained close with his father also. As the eldest of three maternal siblings and seventeen paternal siblings, Lee Roy often recalled this as “the best of both worlds” and felt blessed to have had two fathers that loved him. He attended Catholic School as a child and graduated from Dunbar High School in Mobile in 1946. That same year he moved to Pontiac, MI and started working for GM Truck and Bus in October 1946. He was recognized often at GM for suggesting innovative ideas that were incorporated into the automotive manufacturing process and design. He was honorably discharged from the United States Army where he served as Corporal in the Korean War from December 1950-January1953. While in the Army he married his first wife, M. Elizabeth Andrews, with whom he remained for thirteen years before divorce. After returning to GM from the war, he later earned a skilled trades degree in plumbing and electrical. Lee Roy loved women, muscle cars and motorcycles, and made no enemies, especially of the female gender. He was an honorary member of the local chapter of the 761st Battalion Veterans. In February 1966, he married Zepherea “Marie” Stephens and her children whom he loved and regarded as his own. They did have one daughter together, Vonda, whom he lovingly spoiled. Lee Roy retired from GM in 1981 but kept busy doing plumbing, electrical and carpentry work for residents and small businesses around town. He was compassionate, never charging senior citizens or family members for labor and sometimes not even parts. While always taking care of home first, Lee Roy loved to play cards, lottery and slot machines and sometimes those games loved him back! He returned to his hometown of Mobile, Alabama, regularly to visit his family, eventually becoming a “snowbird” and spending several winters there. Lee Roy loved to make you laugh at his jokes or stories and would always have encouraging words of advice or funny quotes and was just a very kind, very wise, very practical, very generous man. Mr. Kidd leaves to cherish his memory: wife, Zepherea Marie Kidd; devoted daughter, Vonda Kidd; son, Lewis (Bloneva) Stephens; daughters, Bernadine “#2” Bryant, Janice “#1” (Bobby) Love and Bonnie Smartt; siblings, Frankie (Leon) Chism, Charles Malone Jr. of MI, Lovelace (Harolyn) Kidd of TX, Thelma (A.C.) Mosley, George (Annette) Kidd, William (Amelia) Kidd, and Isaiah Kidd all of AL; sister-in-law, Canary Malone; grandchildren, Marvin (Keisha) Taylor, Tamara (Vaughn) Brown, Yolanda Dixon, Katanya (Carlos) Edwards, Kelly Elam, Lewis (LaShawnda) Clark, Antoine, Kenyatta and Khalema Stephens, Donnie, Donielle, Derrick and DeAndre Smartt; thirty two great grandchildren; eight great great grandchildren; including three special great great grandchildren : Damaria Clark, JaTara “Boss Lady” Brown and Kelcie “Buddy Best Friend” Hunt; a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives including specials: sister-in-law, Jessie Stephens; nieces, Latrese Russell and Linda Kidd-Andrews; nephews, Anthony and Kermit Kidd; devoted friend, Cleveland Bobo. Mr. Kidd was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Kidd, Georgia and Charles Malone Sr; grandson, Raymond Clark; siblings, James Malone Sr., Claude Kidd, Robert Kidd, Aaron Kidd, Tom Robert Kidd, Consuela Kidd, Mittie Kidd, Dorothy Kidd, Rose Kidd-Fair, Cora Kidd, Leola Wade, Sherol Kidd and Lindora Kidd-Scott; aunt, Emily Watkins; uncles, Fred, Frank, Eugene and Cossey Bettis. Vonda would like to acknowledge and thank the following people for their kindness throughout the years: devoted friends, Pat Franks and the Friday Night Regulars, neighbors, Patricia and Donnie White, Carnice Davis and Francis Scruggs; the ladies at Pete’s and Fino’s Coney Islands always spoiled him; Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Turpin and Staff; Terry, Shavon and Dr. Harold; Dr. Basch and Staff; Dr. Krivitsky and Staff. Also special thanks to the staff at Boulevard Health Center and Seasons Hospice most recently.

Lee Roy Kidd

October 18, 1928 - June 8, 2015