Chloris Kennedy

Birth: September 28, 1934 | Died: April 3, 2026

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Chloris Jean Skogstrom was born on September 28, 1934, in the tiny town of Ayrshire, Iowa; she was the second of five children born to Harry and Vivian Skogstrom. At a young age, she moved with her family to the larger nearby town of Algona, where she made many friends, including some that lasted a lifetime. Growing up, she was also very close friends with her cousins. Throughout her life, Chloris made all relationships a priority, whether she hosted meals and get-togethers, or traveled across the country for family gatherings or class reunions, she was always eager to reconnect with family and friends.

Chloris met Jimmie Kennedy at Algona High School. He asked her to be his date for the school dance when she was a junior and a member of the Homecoming Court. After dating for over a year, he proposed right before her Senior Prom, and they married on August 17, 1952, which was the start of a wonderful marriage that lasted 72 years.

When Jimmie enlisted in the Navy in 1953 and was sent to boot camp and training in California, Chloris followed him and stayed with his aunt and uncle in Anaheim. When he was assigned to a ship stationed at Pearl Harbor, she followed again. They found a small apartment in Honolulu, which allowed them to make many friends among the locals and be immersed in the life and culture of the islands. Chloris found work at a credit union, which helped her meet new people and stay busy, especially while Jimmie was at sea for six months at a time. After Jimmie’s discharge in 1957, the young couple returned to Anaheim.

When Jimmie was hired by the Anaheim Police Department the following year, Chloris quietly and steadfastly supported him as he advanced through the ranks. She joined the Police Officer Wives Club and eventually served as an officer of the club. She kept the household running smoothly when he took classes to earn his degrees, as well as the 20+ years of Monday nights that he taught classes at Fullerton College. She kept the kids occupied and quiet during periods when he worked night shifts and slept during the day, and she capably managed family and home life again when he spent three months away attending the FBI Academy. Chloris was the devoted, loving, and supportive wife always by Jimmie’s side that enabled him to be as successful as he was in his career.

The Kennedy family grew with the births of Cindy, Craig, and Steve. Chloris was a stay-at-home mom, and she graciously supported her children in their many activities, including school programs and the PTA, and Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts. She cheered them on through Little League seasons and high school sports, rarely missing a game or event. A favorite family activity was going camping with their tent-trailer, which typically resulted in a cherished family story of adventure. Home life was peaceful, orderly, and always centered around family meals and church.

As the kids got older, Chloris returned to the workplace part-time, working as a bookkeeper for many years. Eventually she took a position with the Yorba Linda City Clerk’s office, which she greatly enjoyed. She was valued by employers and coworkers alike for her kindness, dependability, professionalism, and careful attention to detail.

She was an excellent cook and took great pleasure in feeding people. She grew up as a child of the Great Depression but never mentioned any family hardships. However, it was obvious that she never wanted to see anyone go away hungry. She prepared delicious and elaborate meals for holidays, parties for police couples, gatherings of extended family, picnics and barbeques for church members and neighbors, meetings of the Marriage Encounter group from church, and smaller dinners with family friends. By providing good food, company, and hospitality, she nourished many people in both body and soul.

Chloris was a faithful member of the Anaheim United Methodist Church congregation for more than 65 years and served on various committees. She was an active member of the women’s group that made seasonal handcraft items for sale at the annual church bazaar, and she was known for her tole painting and knitting. Later, when the church started a prayer shawl ministry, Chloris used her artistic skills for a more ambitious purpose. She knitted over 150 shawls, no two alike, that were prayed over and then presented to those struggling through grief, illness, or disease. This physical warmth that she provided was an outward expression of her faith, compassion, and warmth of spirit.

Once she and Jimmie settled into permanent retirement in the 1990s, they enjoyed reading, snow skiing and staying at their cabin in Big Bear, revisiting Hawaii, spending time with friends, remaining very active in church, and enjoying their grandchildren and eventually great-grandchildren. Their house was the setting for so many of the grandchildren’s fond memories of playing and hunting for Easter eggs in the backyard, reading books together, splashing in the jacuzzi, learning how to knit and sew, setting up their elaborate Snow Village display for Christmas, and enjoying fresh-baked cookies or a Cactus Cooler. Living in Anaheim also meant regularly watching fireworks and taking trips to Disneyland.

She and Jimmie moved into Walnut Village Retirement Community in 2010, where they enjoyed visits from family members and friends in their beautiful apartment, working out in the gym, and competing on Wii bowling teams. They also made many friends among their new neighbors, and several members of their church eventually joined them in the Walnut Village Community. As Jimmie’s health and mobility declined in the last few years, Chloris remained as helpful and devoted to him as ever, loving and caring for him every day right to the end. She was heartbroken when he passed away in April 2025, but bravely carried on, still enjoying visits by family, friends, and church members, and she especially cherished spending time with her great-grandchildren. She passed away on Good Friday, with family members by her side.

Chloris was preceded in death by her parents, older brother Cliff Skogstrom, son-in-law Douglas Williams, and her beloved husband Jimmie. Chloris’s legacy lives on through her loving children Cynthia Williams of Parker, CO, Craig (Jenny) Kennedy of Corona, and Steven (Mary) Kennedy of Indianapolis; her grandchildren Eric (Tracey) Kennedy of Corona, Kelsey Williams of Woodland Park, CO, Megan (Tyler) Bernth of Corona, Trent Williams of Fort Collins, CO, and Andrew and Clare Kennedy of Indianapolis; and her great-grandchildren Danica Grzybowski, Lucy and Remi Kennedy, and Brooks, Breanne, and Bryce Bernth. She is also survived by her siblings Darlene Kinsey of Santa Ana, Dave (Jan) Skogstrom of Minneapolis, and Tom (Steve Pauling) Skogstrom of St. Paul. Chloris was loved by all who knew her and, outside her immediate family, she was especially adored by all her nieces and nephews who held a special place in her heart also.

She is loved and dearly missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made “In Memory of Chloris Kennedy” to: Anaheim United Methodist Church, 1000 S. State College Blvd., Anaheim, CA 92806.