"Carpéd the Diem, Siezed the Day"

I was asked to write up Kent's life story for the bulletin for the memorial service. The title seemed appropriate to Kent as that was how he lived, seizing every day and making the most of it (and also making up Simcoeisms). Following is what was printed in the service program. 

"Carpéd the Diem, Siezed the Day"

Born in Kansas City, Missouri on January 19, 1938, Kent spent most of his early years in the same house and neighborhood.  He worked his way up to Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts in his youth and was a well-loved scoutmaster as an adult.  Throughout life, he practiced the motto of the scouts to help others and always be prepared.  Kent worked his way through college working at a TV station in Kansas City.  It was there that he developed his love for video and media that could carry through his life. 

He attended Cal Tech for a year, but returned to Kansas when the funds ran dry.  He graduated from the University of Kansas with both a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering.  Kent married Sara Yeagley while attending KU.  After graduation, they moved to Loveland, Colorado when Kent got a job at Hewlett-Packard in 1962.  While there, he also earned an MS in Business Administration from Colorado State University.  Kent and Sara expanded their family to include four children, Sherri, Brian, Mark, and Anne and moved to Cupertino, CA in the early 1970’s.  Kent worked as a hardware designer and earned his name on several patents from HP.  He became a support engineer in the ‘80s and was a well-received technical instructor.  Kent retired from HP in 1994.

Music was a big part of Kent’s life.  He helped several churches procure new organs and was a member of each church’s choir.  Though he didn’t wear his religion on his sleeve, he deeply loved the Lord and tried to live life using Jesus as his example.  He always woke up with a smile on his face, a song in his heart and whistling a silly tune.  He enjoyed making up his own words to fit any occasion.  It was music that brought Sally Staudte into his life in 1986.  They were married in March 1987 in San Jose.

As a husband, father, and friend, he gave people the courage to do what they otherwise would not, and encouraged them to reach their full potential.  He would find or make ways to ensure that that given the proper tools and opportunity, they could develop and make use of their God-given talents.  He took great pleasure in breaking down barriers for others.  Simcoe Communications was founded in 1988 as an outlet for the video bug that started in his youth.  Kent documented people with obvious differences, who were leading “normal lives,” as a way to show others that, as long as it is well lived, life is never a tragedy, no matter what the circumstances.

Golf carts in Sun City yielded to the Sun City Computer Rooter Scooter.  When someone was in need, there was nothing he couldn’t or wouldn’t do.  With a “can-do” attitude, he would drop what he was doing and dive into helping.  In his “retirement” he seemed to work harder than ever – producing videos and CDs, technical writing, and consulting. 

Kent loved to travel.  He took pride in finding new routes to get to familiar places, just to see different sights.  He would notice the beautiful things around him and point them out for others to see.  He taught his family to find beauty in nature and in the awesome power of God’s creation.

Kent was always found laughing and joking and took great joy in sharing his twisted (and wonderful) sense of humor.  His very specific and somewhat obscure taste made him interesting to be with (and very hard to shop for). 

In 1992, Shelby, Sally’s service dog joined the family.  Not one to pass up an opportunity to share his talents, Kent volunteered his video expertise with CCI and videotaped 36 graduation ceremonies and created several special presentations on their behalf.  Each graduate of the Northwest training center over the past 10 years received one of these videos.  This was also the year Ryan, his first grandchild, was born.  Granddaughter Grace, born in 1997, spoke volumes when she saw Grandpa in the hospital.  She prayed for him everyday, and knew that Grandma Sally was sad.  But she wasn’t sad, for she knew he was in God’s hands.  Two more grandsons, Lucas and Michael were added by marriage in 2000.

Daughter Sherri says it best.  “Dad lived everyday – probably the best model I have of living each day to do what is important for the people he loved and to do what enabled him to grow as a person.”

This is how he wanted to be remembered.  “He was as good a man as his dog thought he was.”  And we believe he was.

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