Funeral services for fallen Sgt. Kenneth Raymond “KR” Booker are set for Sunday, December 9 at 1:00 p.m. at the Switzerland County High School Gymnasium in Vevay. Visitation will be held Saturday, December 8 from 4-8 p.m. at the high school and again on Sunday from noon until time of the service. Interment will be in the Slawson Cemetery, Bennington, with military rites conducted by the honor guard of the Fort Knox Ceremonial Unit.

The 25-year-old soldier from Vevay was killed in action in Mukhisa, Iraq, on November 14, serving his third deployment in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sgt. Booker died of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive detonated near his vehicle.

Joining the Army just after graduation, Sgt. Booker was a member of the 82nd Airborne division from Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. His exemplary service earned him an assignment in military intelligence at Fort Lewis, Washington. The soldier, however, preferred working in the field, rather than an office, and requested transfer back to infantry. Joining a Stryker Brigade Combat Unit at Fort Lewis, Sgt. Booker had returned to Iraq for his third deployment.

Sgt. Booker received many awards, among those: the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, two Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, two Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commission Officer Development Program, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, Parachute Badge, and Expert Rifle Weapon.

The accomplished soldier was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. Friends and family say he will be remembered for his clever sense of humor, love of hunting and target shooting, his outgoing nature and above all, his outstanding dedication to his country.

Sgt. Booker was born February 5, 1982, in Madison, the son of Charles Raymond Booker and Becky (Daughrity) Booker Graham. He is survived by his father and stepmother, SSG Charles Raymond and Brenda “Shorty” Booker of Vevay; mother and stepfather, Becky and Robert Graham of Milton, Kentucky; brother, Kaleb Daniel Booker of Madison; wife: Betzaida Booker of Fayetteville, NC; paternal grandmother, Inez Booker of Moorefield; paternal grandfather, SFC Raymond H. Booker (retired) of Burkesville, Kentucky; paternal great grandmother, Dorothy McMackin of Moorefield; two stepbrothers, Keith Briner and wife, Angie of Indianapolis; Robert Graham Jr. of Houghton, LA; stepsister, Katrina Soles of Houghton, LA; two aunts, Alice Powell and husband Darrell of Madison; Eula Butler and husband, Shan of Vevay; great, great aunt, Ruby McMackin of Bennington; niece, Hailey, nephew, Blayden, and cousins, Jason Rook, Jeremy Stevens, Jarrid Stevens, Andrew Peelman, and Angela Powell.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, James and Cathy (Temple) Daughrity, great grandfather, Charles L. McMackin.

Sgt. Booker was raised in Switzerland County and was a graduate of Switzerland County High School Class of 2000. He attended the Mt. Sterling Baptist Church in Vevay, and was a member of the Switzerland County FFA.

Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home of Vevay is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Sergeant Kenneth Raymond Booker Memorial Fund c/o the Community Foundation of Switzerland County, PO Box 46, Vevay, or the Slawson Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to the family via the funeral home’s website at www.haskellandmorrison.com.

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