Kenneth Ray Haggard, 65, Hopkinsville, KY passed away suddenly Tuesday, January 30, 2024 in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands while snorkeling with his wife.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 8, 2024 at First United Methodist Church. A private family burial will be held at a later date. Lamb Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.
Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at the funeral home.
A native of Ballard County, Kentucky, he was born January 28, 1959, the son of the late Robert Ray Haggard and the late Carolyn (Piper) Haggard.
He grew up a military brat and lived in numerous places before his family returned to Ballard County. Ken was Salutatorian of Ballard Memorial High School’s 1977 graduating class. He graduated magna cum laude from Murray State University in 1981 where he was a proud brother of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, joining the elite rank of, “Life Loyal Sig”. In 1984 he earned his Juris Doctorate from the School of Law at the University of Kentucky. After passing the Bar exam, Ken and his wife moved to Hopkinsville where he began practicing law for almost 40 years. Ken was always a hard worker. He put himself through college and law school raising tobacco alongside his grandfather, Woodrow, and brother, Joe. He continued working hard for his clients and was dedicated to them and he was always willing to go the distance to serve them well. He loved practicing law and fighting the good fight and talked of retiring, but never truly could. He was fierce in the courtroom and the life of the party outside. He was beginning to slow down and spend more time with his family and travel with his wife, as he always wanted. The happiest times were days spent with his wife, children, and granddaughters at the water and playing games, which he hated to lose.
Ken was a member of First United Methodist Church of Hopkinsville. He was a former member of the Jaycees and the Kiwanis Club and served in various leadership positions. Professionally, Ken held the AV rating according to Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory which is the highest peer review legal ability rating an individual lawyer can receive, signifying “preeminent legal ability” and “the highest ethical standards”. He was awarded the honor of the Nation’s Top One Percent from the National Association of Distinguished Counsel and was named Kentucky Super Lawyer numerous times. Ken was a Fellow of the Kentucky Bar Foundation. He was also a member of the Christian County Bar Association, Kentucky Bar Association, American Bar Association, Kentucky Justice Association, and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Joe Craig Haggard, and his beloved grandfather, George Woodrow Piper.
Survivors include his wife of 40 years, LeiAndra Vaughn Haggard, Hopkinsville, Kentucky; his son, Charles Robert (Jessica) Haggard, Hopkinsville, Kentucky; his daughter, Jolie Raye (Zach) Lamb, Hopkinsville, Kentucky; and his granddaughters, Kensley Marie Lamb, Amelia Louis Lamb, and Charleigh Rose Haggard.
