Kenneth "Kenny" Roger Marmon

Kenneth "Kenny" Marmon, Sr. September 25, 1945 – April 25, 2026

Kenneth "Kenny" Marmon, Sr., 80, of Columbia, Missouri, passed away on April 25, 2026. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to the late John and Ruby (Harris) Marmon and married the love of his life, Helen Hatton, in Columbia on June 19, 1987. He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and retired from the H.S.T. VA Hospital, where he worked as a radiology technician.

Those who knew Kenny knew he wasn’t one to waste words. But when he started to speak, the room grew still, because he always had something worth saying. Similarly, if he found something funny, his laugh was contagious, pulling everyone else in whether they meant to or not. His sense of justice ran deep. He served as president of the VA union, was an active member of the NAACP, and traveled to Washington, D.C., several times to protest. Standing up for what was right was never an option for him. It was core to who he was. He made sure that sense of civic engagement was a family affair, getting his youngest daughter, Kimberly, active with the NAACP as well.

At home, Kenny was an anchor. The family was built around his steady love and presence. Saturday mornings meant brunch featuring his famous eggs over easy. His weekends were reserved for yard work and washing down the cars. As a father, Kenny showed up to everything from band concerts to sports tournaments to parent-teacher conferences.  He bragged about each accomplishment and celebrated every win. And when his children needed advice or encouragement, he was there to remind them, “You're the captain of your own ship. I know you can do it!”

Kenny and Helen were the kind of couple who protected the peace in their relationship. Their friendship was as deep as their love for each other. They enjoyed being together, often bowling, playing on a mixed softball team, or enjoying a competitive game of dominoes, the very thing that brought them together many decades ago. They were also fond of stealing quiet moments alone to dance to their song, Glenn Jones’s “We’ve Only Just Begun.” No matter what the day had brought, they made sure the day ended with a house full of love.

That legacy of love will carry on through his family. He was a good man. A solid man. And he will be deeply missed.

Kenny is survived by his wife, Helen; sons, Kenneth Marmon, Jr. (Diania) and Cortez Marmon; daughters, Kimberly Marmon, Shelonda White (Stephen), and Candias Hatton-Hardin (Marcel); a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brother, Bert Marmon; and sister, Sarah Elaine May.

A visitation will be held on May 7, 2026, at 9 a.m., followed by a celebration of life at 10 a.m., at Bach-Yager Funeral Chapel, 1610 North Garth Avenue in Columbia. Inurnment with Military Honors will follow the service at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Jacksonville, Missouri.

Bach-Yager Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Marmon family

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