Kent M. Harmon Obituary (1920 - 2016)

We rejoice in Kent's sweet transition to a place he can once again serve with all his heart and spirit. Born to Irvin Woodbury Harmon and Winnie Agnes Rees Midgley Harmon on May 17, 1920, in St. George, Utah, Kent was their only surviving son. He was blessed with three younger sisters, Dora Ann, Alice, and Mary, whom he adored. They loved him and looked up to him immensely. The family moved multiple times during the rough days of his childhood, which included Kent and his pals frying and eating worms in Lovell, WY. After his father completed a doctorate in animal husbandry at Berkeley, the family moved to Glendale, CA. In addition to lots of church activities, he excelled in school and played the bassoon in the Glendale HS band. Kent noticed LaFaye Steed at church in the Glendale ward. Luckily for us, she noticed him too. Dazzled by her vivacity and spunk, he was never tempted to look any further. They married in the St George Temple on September 23, 1942, after he earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry at Redlands University. They set off for more education at Berkeley, where David Kent (Laura Louise Tippetts) was born. Kent's doctoral studies were interrupted by WWII; he served for two years as a scientist working on the secret Manhattan Project in Los Alamos NM on the team that discovered how to purify plutonium. Claudia Faye (Marvin Gale) was born there. After the war, he completed his Ph.D at Cal Tech in Pasadena. In 1948, Kent and LaFaye moved to Richland, WA for him to work in nuclear research, production, and waste management until his retirement in 1987. Three more children were born to them during their first five years there: Kristi Ilene (Kevin Branham), Peter Irvin (died in Japan while serving an LDS mission), and Gary Louis (Leah Hill). The pattern of church service continued for both Kent and LaFaye. Kent was bishop of Richland 1st Ward for 7 years, Richland WA Stake president for 9 years, Richland Stake patriarch, and temple sealer in the Seattle and Jordan River temples for 20 years. Giving patriarchal blessings to and sealing most of his grandchildren was the highlight of his church service. LaFaye supported him without a trace of a murmur and served in all the church auxiliaries. Kent and LaFaye also parented Kelly Hocum Thibert as a foster daughter for 2 years. Missions to the Micronesia Guam and the Austria Vienna East Missions occupied nearly four years of their retirement. Kent ministered to native church leaders and members on multiple islands of Micronesia, including giving patriarchal blessings there. Their mission in Austria required LaFaye to have an equal or even more important role than Kent, as she served as secretary to the mission president while Kent handled finances for the mission and shopped for supplies for missionaries entering countries of the former Soviet bloc. After that final mission, they moved to Cornerstone, in the shadow of the Jordan River Temple, where they dutifully served for more than 15 years. Kent died on February 10, 2016, at home in Legacy House with LaFaye at his side. Kent is remembered by his children as patient, loving, loyal, analytical, shy and always full of integrity. He tackled home improvement projects in Richland, including finishing two basements, building a carport, and pouring a cement patio and driveway with gusto while teaching his children in the process. He is known for his talents as a teacher, a family history writer, a skilled administrator with terrific people skills at church, work, and community service, and an expert at "old bear's not out tonight" and other kid games. His stake conference talks usually included family stories which taught more than preaching could. He was so good to Mom. She called him her "Prince Charming" and he was, is, and will be. Their posterity of 25 grandchildren and 77 great grandchildren and the many spouses of their posterity call their names blessed. He was preceded in death by their missionary son, Peter, their sweet granddaughter, Kelsia Branham, his parents, his sisters Ann and Alice, and his brother Elwood. Thanks to the Legacy House staff, Amazing Medical Group, Aspire Hospice, Legacy Branch, River Ridge 8th Ward, and Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Chapel for their kind assistance. A viewing will be held at Jenkins-Soffe South Valley, 1007 W. South Jordan Pkwy (10600 S), South Jordan from 11:30am-1:00pm on Saturday, February 13, 2016, with the funeral following at 1:30pm. Interment to follow at Wasatch Lawn Cemetery, 3401 S. Highland Dr., SLC. To view the funeral online, please visit www.jenkins-soffe.com. Funeral Home: Jenkins-Soffe South Valley 1007 W. South Jordan Pkwy. South Jordan, UT 84095