Remembering Kent...

I always get a little "freaked out" when I find out about a death of some one I knew awhile after their passing. It's like I don't get to grieve "properly." So today I went to my mail box & pulled out a letter from my high school class. I thought it had to do with reunion stuff. Instead it was telling of the benefit auction & dance for one of my former class mates family. I had no idea that Kent had died in June. What's frustrating about that is almost my entire family...including Randy's...lives in the same town as Kent so you think some one would have told me.

Well, now the shock has worn off a little & I would like to pay tribute to a guy I went to school with from K through 12th grade. I always considered him sort of shy & sly in school with an incredible smile. He was a very nice & gentle guy & I don't remember anyone ever saying anything bad about him.

I hadn't seen him since we graduated from high school until last October at our 20th high school reunion (yes, I know how old I am :o) He had the same amazing smile & he had a twinkle in his eye. He was a lot more talkative than I remember in school. He recounted some things about me that I would have rather forgotten :o) but I enjoyed talking with him. I pray that he's in heaven joking with Jesus. I pray that the love & peace of Jesus will fill & over flow his family, especially his wife Kelly (who was also in my class) & his two sons.

Obituary from the Southeast Missourian Newspaper on June 19th:

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Kent J. Martin, 39, of Perryville died Sunday, June 17, 2007, at Perry County Memorial Hospital, as the result of a fall.
He was born Nov. 28, 1967, in Perryville, son of Nathan Earl and Anna Buerck Martin. He and Kelly Bauwens were married Sept. 15, 1990.

Martin was an aircraft mechanic at Saberliner. He was a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Sereno, and American Legion Booster Post 133.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Garrett and Nathan Martin of the home; his parents of Perryville; two sisters, Christy Dobbelare and Robyn Richardet of Perryville; three brothers, Kevin, Keith, and his twin brother Kurt Martin, all of Perryville.

He was preceded in death by an infant sister.

Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. today, and 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Young and Sons Funeral Home. The parish wake will be tonight.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Victory Church, with the Rev. Francis Agnew officiating. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.