E. Kent Simkins' Obituary
Ernest Kent Simkins aka "EK" passed away on July 28, 2013 after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Kent faced cancer with grace and humor and had his mind made up that beating cancer was a numbers game. His great attitude and determination allowed Kent great success fighting cancer for 18 months where he was given only a 20% chance to live 6 mos.
He was born on August 13, 1943 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Genevieve Blaney Simkins and Ernest Charles Simkins. Kent was raised in Copperton, Utah and graduated from Bingham High School in 1961. He attended the University of Utah before joining Shulsen-Dillon Athletic Supply, where he began his professional sales career. He later represented Miracle Recreation Equipment Company and The Golf Card, where he retired in 1998. He was a career salesperson, selling what he loved, sporting goods and playground equipment. Kent celebrated monthly “Sunday Breakfasts” with his Navy buddies and enjoyed many rounds of golf with his lifelong friends.
Kent served proudly in the United States Navy for twenty-six years serving in Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm, where he was awarded a Naval Meritorious Service Medal. He also served in the Navy Reserve, attending drill in Salt Lake City, Utah and Jacksonville, Florida. During active duty, he served in many capacities including working on a U.S.N. Destroyer (ship), Swift Boat patrol (in-country Vietnam), and leading a cargo-handling battalion, in the Persian Gulf, during Operation Desert Storm. Kent retired, Honorably, at the rate of E-7 - Chief Petty Officer. Kent loved numbers and was meticulous about them in his everyday life. From tracking his exact gas mileage to calculating his average puzzle solve times, he always had “the stats”. He also loved a good joke and was a captivating storyteller. He prided himself on making others laugh. Has anyone heard the story about the time Kent and (I’m sure everyone can finish one of those stories) Kent is an avid sports fan, Kent grew up playing basketball, baseball and football and followed them at the college and professional levels, religiously. There were many stories from Kent about putting the guy with the “weakest arm” on 3rd base or his football coach said “Kent if you see the football on the ground please call someone to come grab it”. He was a die-hard Utah Utes football and basketball fan and rooted heartily in the heat and cold, through the good seasons and the not-so-good ones. Kent was able to attend every one of those games through the 13-0 season and even sat through the entire game during the bad seasons. To this day Kent would argue how the “prevent defense” in football would “prevent’ you from winning the game. Along with the local teams Kent was a long term Cowboys fan and Yankee’s fan. Kent discovered red box in 2012 and as meticulous he was about tracking everything he calculated the rate he paid per movie to the penny. In that year he viewed and returned 132 movies through the mail with an average cost of $.81 and was amazed he could mail out the most recently viewed DVD and then receive a new one the following day. Kent watched every episode of The Good Wife, NCIS and Blue Bloods. In addition Kent was a charter member on Jeopardy winning millions, from his living room of course. Every crossword and jumble was completed in record time every day.
Kent married Karen Patterson (Boyce) in 1974 and helped care for her infant daughter, Danielle, until her death, from congenital heart failure, age 13 months. Denim was born in 1975 and Kent formally adopted JT in 1980. They divorced in 1987 but remained friends throughout the years.
Kent is survived by, sons James Thomas "JT" Simkins (Hollie), Denim Simkins (Carma), His Sisters Denny (Norman) Carlisle, Dorothy (Bert) Dart and Kathy (Tom) Rabb. He adored (and bragged about) his grandchildren Brittney, Brianna (James) Radke, Danielle and Gabrielle, and great-grandchildren Rylie and Makaila. Kent loved his nieces & nephews and cherished the time he spent time with them. Kent was preceded in death by his mother and father, his sister Merry Simkins Juretich, and niece Andrea Kastelic.
We want to thank his caregivers at the VA Hospital and Huntsman Cancer Institute. This was his “team” that he enjoyed to visit with on a daily and monthly basis during the last 18 months of treatment. Kent wanted us to specifically thank his palliative care team of Dr. Kay and Robbie and his oncologist Dr. Sam.
Services will be held at the Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park. 17111 So Camp Williams Rd. A viewing will be held Wednesday the 31st @ 1:00pm with the funeral starting @ 2:00pm
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Salt Lake Veterans Hospital (palliative care room).
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