Connie Jean Kennedy, 81, of Bella Vista, passed away on December 18, 2022, in Bella Vista, Arkansas.

Connie was raised in Cedarville, Arkansas and graduated from St. Scholastica High School in Fort Smith, AR. Connie married her husband, Bill, in 1960 and raised four beautiful children while living in Van Buren, AR. She retired from Westark Community College in Fort Smith where she served as the bookstore manager. Connie and Bill moved to Bella Vista in 1994. They were married for 62 wonderful years and were lovingly known as "Mamaw and Papaw".

Connie was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; parents; David and Audrey Hightower; and brother, Jimmy Hightower.

Connie is survived by her four children, Bill Kennedy Jr. and wife, Linda, of Bella Vista, Kelly Kennedy of Bella Vista, Leslie Folsom and husband, Joe, of Bella Vista, and Leigh Ann Watkins and husband, Jake, of Corinth, Texas. Bill and Connie were blessed with twelve grandchildren, Danni Kennedy, Casey Kennedy, Evan Kennedy, Jamie Kelly, Nick Nunnelee, Jordan Sooter, Joey Folsom, Emily Folsom, Rose Folsom, Dawn Andrews, Audrey Watkins, and Natalie Watkins; ten great-grandchildren: Victoria Delacruz, Aria Hayes, Landon Kelly, Camryn Kelly, Nate Nunnelee, Aubrey Nunnelee, Sophia Andrews, Aubree Andrews, Gracie Andrews, and Joseph (JJ) Folsom, Jr.; and two brothers, David Hightower of Union Town, and Kenneth Hightower of Cedarville.

Visitation will be held at the Bella Vista Funeral Home, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd, Bella Vista, AR 72715 on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held Thursday, December 22, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the Bella Vista Funeral Home. A private family burial will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at Sarah's Grove Cemetery in Van Buren, Arkansas.

Memorials may be made to Circle of Life Hospice, 1201 NE Pkwy, Bentonville, AR 72712.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory.  On-line condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.