Eileen Mae Kent

Eileen, aged 86, left us on Sunday, May 20, 2012 after a brief illness for a joyful reunion with her Heavenly Father and her beloved husband Howard. She was born in Muskegon, MI on December 5, 1925 to Angie (Boll) and Robert Earlenbaugh. She graduated from Muskegon High School in 1945 where she enjoyed the friendship of 13 gal-pals. She met her “one and only” Howard Kent while working in the celery flats. Eileen served 3 years as a Cadet Nurse, graduating from Mercy Central School of Nursing in 1948 as a RN. Upon Howard’s return from the Korean War they were married October 28, 1948 and began their life together, where for the next 53 years he would introduce her as his bride. They spent many years in tiny house trailers moving from site to site, following Howard’s job as an Electrician across central-western Michigan. Each of their six children was born at a different location. They finally settled in Jackson, MI to open a branch of the family business, Kent Electric Company, and build their home with the help of family and friends. Eileens’ love of her Lord and Savior came as a young girl in Muskegon, she attended church wherever she was throughout her life. After moving to Jackson the family attended Bennett Community Church where she finally introduced a reluctant Howard to the Lord. In later years they would attend Pathways Community (Gethsemane) Church. They would spend the remainder of their lives as strong Christians, helping in many capacities throughout the years. Eileen loved music, nature, family, friends, and life. A quiet, gentle soul with a song in her heart, and a smile on her lips. She would help in whatever way she could. Never focusing on the bad, but on how to make the best of what you had. She was able to take joy in the simplest of things. She lived her life by the rule that if you had enough-you had enough to share. Eileen was a “stay-at-home” Mom, who wasn’t at home much. She helped where needed as room parent, PTA, Scouts, and with the Northwest Mother’s Club. When Kent Electric Company restructured, and Kent Electric Services, Inc. started up in the Jackson area, she worked in the office and served as President for a number of years. Eileen was always busy, her hands never still. When she was no longer buried by family mending, she renewed her love of quilting and was a member of the Pieces & Patches Quilting Guild. Eileen instilled her love of nature and camping to her family as Howard and she took them on constant outings and camping at local lakes. They returned to Muskegon State Campground every year to camp through 2010. Eileen would pack up the whole kit & caboodle and drive to the campgrounds where Howard would join them on weekends or when work would permit. She taught the children to set-up camp, start a fire, to find wild berries and nuts, and to cook over a campfire. She loved to fish and would feed the family from a mess of panfish she had caught when the men would return empty-handed from a day on the big lake in a boat. Eileen loved to travel-preferably by the back roads. She shared this with family and friends, from picking up a friend from a nursing home and taking her for a country drive and an ice cream cone to making a dream visit to her lifelong pen pal from Junior High days, Valerie Kerr, in New Zealand. She frequented music programs of all kinds from the local school groups, visiting gospel groups, local groups and with the Jackson Trippers to hear nationally known artists. After Howard passed away in 2002, Eileen adamantly stayed on alone in the home they had shared until this last year when her legs failed her. We would like to thank all those that helped her so much at Great Lakes Caring, Vista Grand Health Center, Ridgecrest Assisted Living, Allegiance Hospital and Allegiance Hospice Home. She is survived by children: Peter (Virginia) Kent; Karen Holdaway; Kathryn (Darwin) Smith; Joyce Kent; Susan (Dale) Sylvester and Carol Kent. Twenty grandchildren: Krista (Jared) Johnson; Melody (Shannon) Murray; Joseph (Heather) Holdaway; Kenton Nichols; Shawn Nichols; Daniel (Ruth) Holdaway; Teresah Kent; Daniel Kent; Lana Holdaway; Christel Kent; Carol (Nate) Hammar; Craig Fischman; Michael Lyons; De’sire’e Canada; Thomas Sylvester; Rebecca Lyons; Deborah Alcenius; Zachary Lyons; Christopher Sylvester; and Robert Alcenius. Twenty-four Greatgrandchildren: Lena, Caleb, Lillian, Carys, Ian & Iris; Hudson & Allie; Jase & Meghan; Maisy, Nova & Hazel; Jared, Cameron & Mikayla; Holly & Jameson; Gabriel; Lacey & Olivia; Katelyn & Tyler, and Xander. Special Family Members: Wodena Burse; Jim & Aaron Lyons; Jayson Payne; Alex Rodriguez & Ellie Meyers; Janis & Michael Wilson; Nicole Kincaid; Steve Larner and Heather Enright. Visitation will take place at Patience-Montgomery Funeral Home (406 First St. Jackson, MI) on Friday, May 25, 2012 from 4 to 7 pm. Memorial Service will be held at Pathways Community Church (5225 Clinton Road, Jackson, MI) on Saturday, May 26, 2012 with Rev. Scott Hardaway officiating. Visitation at 12:30, service at 1:00 pm. In keeping with her wishes, cremation will take place with a family service at a later date. Those wishing to make a memorial contribution in Eileen’s memory are asked to donate to a charity of your choice or to give a helping hand to someone in need.

Patience-Montgomery Funeral Home

406 First Street

Jackson, MI 49201

(517) 784-1409