- Date Of Birth: September 20, 1927
- Date Of Death: February 3, 2015
- State: Iowa
Vernon Everett Kent of Independence, Missouri passed away on February 3, 2015 at 6:42 AM, at the Veteran’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.
Vernon, a twin, was the eighth child born on September 20, 1927, on a rural Lucas County farm, to William Kent and Laura (Mundell) Kent. He was educated in the Lucas School District and graduated in 1946. He served his country in the United States Army from 1952-1954 during the Korean Conflict, and he graduated in 1966 from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Missouri .
Vernon married Beverly Jean Adams in 1950, and to this union five children were born, prior to Beverly’s death in 1969. He married Evelyn May (Prather) Smith in 1971 and to this union one daughter was born. The couple later divorced in 1987. Vernon married Mary Ann Wright Kent in 1989 and the couple later divorced.
After high school Vernon worked at Maytag in Newton, Iowa, and later for Hy-Vee, Inc. in Chariton. Then upon graduating from college Vernon taught and coached in the Iowa communities of Dow City, Russell and Osceola.
Sports were an important part of Vernon’s life. He was an excellent athlete, most notably in basketball, golf and softball. His love of sports continued throughout his life, as an avid fan of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, the Chicago Cubs, and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Preceding him in death were his parents, spouses Beverly and Evelyn, son Benjamin, sisters Cleo Gwinn, Cecil Gwinn Boyd, Zella Garner, and Wilma Baker, and brother Wayne Kent. Also preceding him in death were in-laws, Andrew Gwinn, John Boyd, Rolland Rollstin, Katherine Kent, Albert Baker, and Ruby Kent. Surviving to cherish his memory are children Deborah (Larry) Villines of Chariton, Yvonne (George) Galusha of Independence, Missouri, William Kent of Chariton, Jennifer (William) Swartz of Osceola, and Sherry (Tim) Kluender of Fairfield, sisters Twyla Rollstin of Des Moines, and Vera (Lewis) Manor of Des Moines, brother Dwight Kent of Des Moines, 15 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and a host of other family members and friends.
