Obituary of Kenneth Lane Welch

Kenneth Lane Welch, 81, passed away on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 following a brief illness. Born on August 03, 1942 in Cherokee to the late Jonah and Olive McCoy Welch. He attended the Chilocco Indian School, the Cherokee Boarding School and graduated from Cherokee High School. He graduated as an Engineering Technician from the Institute of Engineering Technicians through the University of Tennessee. Throughout his career he worked for the Y12 Nuclear Program designing pipelines in Oakridge, Tennessee. He was also a Youth Coodinator for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. His careers allowed him to travel all over the country. He retired from Qualla Housing Authority in 2004 after 22 years of service. Kenneth loved the outdoors, hunting, gathering wild salads, looking for mushrooms and ramps, and digging ginseng. He loved to share his knowledge and stories of the old days with everyone. He loved his family and he loved being a dad, grandpa, and great grandpa. After retirement he enjoyed sitting on the front porch drinking coffee and making many of his carvings that he was well known for. He was preceded in death by his wife Rosalyn Arch Welch, parents Jonah and Olive McCoy Welch, brothers Johnny, Tommy, Terry, and Thurman Welch, and sister Bernice Lambert. He is survived by his children Trudy Crowe (Bunsey), Tracy, Jason, and Shaylene Welch, Grand children: Trista, Bradley, Gage, and Eveie Welch, Brandi and Brianna Lambert, Miriam Fuller, Shelby and Payton (Daisy) Parker, and Elise, Sophie, Adi, and Chloe Cooper, Mother in Law Helen Arch, Sister Inez Welch, Brother Calvin Murphy, Adopted Sons Robert, Dave, and Thomas Wahnetah, and 12 Great Grand Children, multiple nieces, nephews, and cousins, all of Cherokee. Pall Bearers will be amongst family and friends. Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM Sunday at Crisp Funeral Home Chapel. Pastor David Hall will officiate with burial at Birdtown Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM Sunday at the Funeral Home. Crisp Funeral Home assisted the family in their arrangements.