Mr. Kendrick Fay “Kenny” Briggs Jr., age 77, of Vevay, Indiana, entered this life on June 3, 1949 in Madison, Indiana. He was the loving son of the late Kendrick Fay Briggs Sr. and Charlene (McMakin) Briggs Johnson. He was raised in Switzerland County and was a 1967 graduate of Vevay High School. Growing up, he spent much of his time on the apple and peach orchard farm of his maternal grandparents, William and Elaine McMakin, where he learned the value of hard work and developed a strong work ethic that stayed with him throughout his life. Kenny would pick apples from the orchard and help make fresh apple cider, which he would take to Vevay and sell in town. Kenny briefly worked for his uncle in construction before being inducted into the United States Army on February 3, 1969 in Louisville, Kentucky. He served during the Vietnam War era in South Korea for over a year where he was a helicopter mechanic. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Sharpshooter M-14 Badge, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. He was transferred to the reserves on September 17, 1971 at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and was honorably discharged with the rank of Specialist 5th Class on December 4, 1974. On June 7, 1975, Kenny was united in marriage to Brenda Ann Hyatt in Greenwood, Indiana. This happy union of nearly 39 years was blessed with one son, Bradley. After being discharged from the Army, Kenny was employed for eight years for Reliance Electric in Madison, Indiana. Kenny had a lifetime of commitment to agriculture and farmed all of his life in Switzerland County, Indiana, raising dairy cows, tobacco, and hay. Kenny was a former school board member for 12 years and was past president of the Switzerland County 4-H Fairboard for five years. Kenny was awarded the River Friendly Farmer of Indiana from the Indiana State Department of Agriculture in August 2019. He was also awarded the Silver Star Award in 2022 from the Switzerland County Soil and Water Conservation District, where he also served on the board and was a past President. Kenny took great pride in his farm and in the work he accomplished throughout the years. One of his greatest joys was teaching his son the family business, passing along the knowledge and values he had gained through a lifetime of hard work. He was especially proud to see his son follow in his footsteps and eventually taking over the family farm, carrying on a tradition that meant so much to Kenny. Kenny was also a devoted grandpa and treasured being involved in his grandchildren’s lives. He would often be found picking them up from school, taking them wherever they needed to go, or simply lending a helping hand whenever they needed him. He cherished his time spent with his grandchildren and being a part of their everyday lives. In his downtime, Kenny also loved watching sports and was an avid Kentucky Wildcats basketball fan. Kenny passed away at 4:05 a.m., Friday, August 14, 2026, at the River Terrace Health Campus in Madison, Indiana.
Kenny will be lovingly remembered by his son, Bradley “Brad” Allen Briggs and his wife, Amanda of Vevay, Indiana; his grandson, Michael Allen Briggs of Vevay, Indiana; his granddaughter, Allison Faye Briggs of Vevay, Indiana; his maternal uncle and aunt, William “Nelson” and Elsie McMakin of Lexington, Kentucky; his brother-in-law, John A. Hyatt of Franklin, Indiana; and his cousins.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Brenda Ann (Hyatt) Briggs, died January 22, 2014; his father, Kendrick Fay Briggs Sr., died June 4, 2011; his mother, Charlene (McMakin) Briggs Johnson, died January 10, 2013; his maternal-grandfather, William “Bill” McMakin, died September 28, 1952; his maternal-grandmother, Elaine (Snyder) McMakin, died August 11, 1993; his paternal-grandfather, Maurice Austin Briggs, died July 5, 1968; his paternal-grandmother, Millicent Mary (Clements) Briggs, died February 27, 1987; his step-mother, Joy P. (Pavy) Briggs, died June 27, 2024; his step-father, Charles William Johnson, died June 1, 2001; his father-in-law, Allen W. “Al” Wesley, died June 3, 2001; his mother-in-law, Beulah Ann (Black) Hyatt, died May 15, 2009; his sister-in-law, Donna Gayle (Poynter) Hyatt, died December 26, 2024; and his aunts and uncles.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 20, 2026, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043.
Interment and full military rites will be conducted by the Honor Guard of the Vevay American Legion Post #185 and the Vevay VFW Post #5396 in the Vevay Cemetery, Vevay, Indiana.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Keeping Pace Cancer Fund or Joy P. Briggs Scholarship Fund c/o Community Foundation of Switzerland County Inc. Cards are available at the funeral home or online at www.haskellandmorrison.com