Ricky L. Kent

Funeral services for Ricky Lamar Kent, age 56, of Eufaula will be held Sunday, February 27, 2011 at 2 P.M. from the First Baptist Church in Eufaula. Dr. Ken Bush and Art Kimbrough will officiate and burial will follow in the Clayton Cemetery with Rev. Bill Brown officiating and Kent Funeral Home of Eufaula directing. Mr. Kent died suddenly Wednesday, Feb. 23 after an apparent heart attack resulted in an auto accident.

Born September 14, 1954 in Panama City, Fl. Ricky was the son of the late Versie E. and Georgia Blanche Owens Kent. He had lived in Barbour County since 1979 coming from Montgomery, Al. Ricky was a member of First Baptist Church of Eufaula, a licensed Alabama Funeral Director and Embalmer, he was a past president of the Clayton Rotary Club, past president of the Barbour County Heart Association, was a member of the Royal Whiteheart Masonic Lodge in Clayton and a 1972 graduate of Rutherford High School in Panama City, Fl. He was a co-owner of Kent Funeral Home in Clayton and Eufaula, a co-owner of Heritage Funeral Home in Panama City, Fl., and co-owner of Kent Thornton Funeral Home in Dothan. Ricky was a shareholder of Kent Care, which owns funeral homes in Tennessee, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi. Ricky was a loving husband, father and friend. He enjoyed music and played for many parties, dances, weddings, receptions and special occasions. He enjoyed writing poetry and cooking.

Survivors include his wife, Hope Kent, Eufaula; a son, Erick (Corrie Dukes) Kent, Auburn; three daughters, Michelle K. (Scott) Porter, Birmingham, Heather K. (Robert) McGowan, Eufaula and Dani Kent, Eufaula; a brother, Charles (Julie) Kent, Marianna, Fl.; three sisters, Jean (Joe) Stone, Millbrook, Ann (Tony) McCartha, Coosada, and Margie (Tommy) Lane, Panama City, Fl.; and 7 grandchildren, Drew McGowan, Anna Kathryn Martin, Samantha Martin, Noah Porter, Jacob Kent, Luke McGowan, and Caleb Kent.

Pallbearers were Freddy Holland, Jimmy Pitts, Charles Kent Jr., Justin Kent, David Lane, Mark Presnell, Clark Presnell and Kenny Stiles.

The family will accept flowers or suggest donation be made to the First Baptist Church Youth Building, 125 S. Randolph Ave. Eufaula, Al. 36027.

Marianna Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.
Expressions of sympathy may be submitted online at www.mariannachapelfh.com