Kenneth "Ken" Edward Underwood

Kenneth "Ken" Edward Underwood

RENTZ, GA - Kenneth "Ken" Edward Underwood was born December 18, 1955. He was the son of Mary Shepard Underwood, who survives him, and the late C. E. "Mutt" Underwood. He is also survived by his siblings, Sheryl Horton of South Carolina, Anita (Monty) Cochran of Dublin, Georgia; and Ted (Tammy) Underwood of South Carolina.

Ken was a devoted husband to Doris Charlton Underwood for 33 years. Together they built a life they loved and raised five children: Eric Underwood (Mischa) of Byron, Georgia; Missy Mullis (Jeremy) of Dexter, Georgia; JP Coleman (Cheryl) of Dublin, Georgia; Sam Underwood (Rachael) of Pueblo, Colorado; and Wes Underwood of Statesboro, Georgia. Ken was uncle to many nieces and nephews and also Papa to twelve grandchildren: Jordan and Jacob Underwood, Teagan and Lacie Hopkins, Morgan and Dalton Mullis, Peyton and Emma Coleman, Cody, Bekah, and Reid Underwood, and Madison Underwood. His role as Papa included providing tractor rides, making campfires, having tea parties, working together in his shop, complaining about all the noise twelve grandchildren can make, and bragging about them to anyone who would listen.

Ken was a "fixer". He worked on tractors and lawnmowers and cars and trucks and buses. His most recent role as a mechanic for the Laurens County Board of Education bus shop gave him the opportunity to do what he loved: fix things, buy more tools, and tell tall tales to a lot of people. He had previously worked for many years as a truck driver and had owned his own tractor repair shop.

Ken loved Jesus, he loved people, and he had a servant's heart. He served alongside his wife raising money for the Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge, he led Men's Ministries, and most recently, he served as the grillmaster for the Explore God's World camping ministry. Nobody could cook on a smoker the way he could, nor could they grill meat that would ever taste as good as his. He used this gift to feed people physically, which gave him the opportunity to feed them spiritually. A campfire with Ken was church to many. In honor of his ministry and in order to continue his legacy, the family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made toward the purchase of a cooking/ministry trailer for Explore God's World. A GoFundMe has been set up to this effect at GoFundMe.com/ken-underwood-memorial-egw-trailer.

Ken went to be with the Lord Sunday, August 12. His homegoing celebration will be Saturday, August 18, at Grace Baptist Church. The family will receive friends and loved ones from 9 to 11, with the celebration of his life to immediately follow at 11. The services will be led by Ken's dear friend, Reverend Rob Helfer, and Pastor, Reverend Danny Duggar.

Visit www.reecefuneralhomeinc.com to sign the online registry

Reece Funeral Home of Jeffersonville is assisting with the arrangements.

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