Dr. Kenneth Strong

Dr. Kenneth Gerald Strong, 69, of Forest, MS was called home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, October 10, 2018, just 6 days shy of his 70th birthday.

Funeral arrangements will be Saturday, October 13, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Forest Baptist Church. Visitation will be at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Forest, MS on Friday evening, October 12 from 5 to 8 PM, and again on Saturday, October 13 from 9:30 to 10:30 AM in the Forest Baptist Church Outreach Center parlor. No graveside services will be held, the family will remain at the church to visit with friends.   Interment will be at Eastern Cemetery in Forest, MS.

A native of Crystal Springs, Kenneth graduated from Crystal Springs High School in 1966. He was a graduate of Mississippi State University where he was a member of Farmhouse Fraternity. Kenneth received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Auburn University in 1973, where he was a member of Omega Tau Sigma, veterinary fraternity.

Dr. Strong was a practicing veterinarian in Jackson, MS with Dr. John Lawrence for 3 years, owned and practiced medicine at Animal Medical Clinic in Cleveland, MS for 11 years. The last 27 years of his career were spent with the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service as a veterinary inspector in Forest, MS at McCarty, Lady Forest Farms and Tyson.

Ken was a strong Christian and served as a deacon at Alta Woods Presbyterian Church in Jackson, founding member, deacon and elder of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. He faithfully attended and served at Forest Baptist Church as a teacher and worker in many areas of church life.

He is preceded in death by his parents Gerald and Maxine Pevey Strong of Utica, grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Kelly Strong of Utica, Mr. and Mrs. Mott L. Pevey of Crystal Springs, Uncle Carson Strong of Utica, brother-in-law Rev. Mitchell Shelburne and niece Jennifer Elise Shelburne and several loved aunts and uncles. He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Pat Parnell Strong, two adoring daughters, Amy Strong Loggins (Roy), of Starkville, and Emily Strong Rutzky (Bob) of Nashville, TN, two precious grandsons, Jacob Hunter Loggins and Boyd Ellis Rutzky. He leaves to cherish his memory two sisters, Annelle Strong Shelburne of Brookhaven and Jerolyn Strong Hobbs (John) of Crystal Springs, one niece, Amanda Hope Izard (Caleb and son Samuel Finnegan-Grey Izard) and two nephews John Kelly Shelburne and Matthew Gerald Hobbs, two aunts Carol Courtney Clay and Johnnie Pevey, Uncle Will W. (Billy) Pevey, many beloved first cousins, and his faithful dachshund, Tucker.

Memorials may be given to the TV/Sound Equipment Fund at Forest Baptist Church, P.O. Box 338, Forest MS 39074.

The family wishes to thank the special doctors and nurses of the AICU unit at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Ken was a kind, loving, son, brother, nephew, uncle, husband, father, grandfather and friend. We will miss him so.