April 5, 1943-Aug. 11, 2022
Kent Clarence Parke returned to his eternal home Aug. 11, 2022. He was born April 5, 1943, to goodly parents. His father, Keith Hatch Parke, owned a sporting goods store and his mother, Sarah Kathryn McCarty Parke, was a school secretary. He had a twin brother Keith Arthur Parke who was 30 minutes older.
Kent lived an idyllic childhood in Long Beach, California, until his father was killed in a horrific car crash, which also killed his father’s friend and badly injured Kent and his brother. Kent really never recovered from his father’s death and there was an element of sadness deep inside of him. His mother eventually married Jacob Lybbert and after Kent graduated from Jordan High School, the family moved to Cardston, Alberta, Canada, to live on a ranch.
Kent served a highly successful mission to the Northern Indian Mission located in Rapid City, South Dakota. He grew to love the Indian people and their culture. After returning home from his mission, he attended Brigham Young University. It was at the first football game of the season in the new Cougar Stadium that he met the love of his life. It was love at first sight when he laid eyes on Lynn Webb, the red-headed beauty from Manchester, England. Kent and Lynn were married Dec. 15, 1966, by Spencer W. Kimball in the Salt Lake Temple.
Kent graduated from Brigham Young University in 1968 with a contract to teach Indian Seminary, Home Study, Early Morning and Institute on the same reservation he spent the “best two years of his life.” Four children were born during the seven years he spent on the reservation: Jon (Angie), Catharine, Richard (Jordan) and Steven (Deborah).
He was transferred to Cedar City, Utah, by the seminary program in 1975 and taught seminary at Cedar City High School for three years. He was recruited by LDS Family Services to administer the Indian Student Placement Program in Southern Utah until the program ended. Four more children were born, Bryan (deceased), Jeffrey (Robin), Keith (Paige) and Ryan (Trina).
Kent had the opportunity to obtain his Master of Social Work degree while working for the LDS church and enjoyed working with adoptions and did marriage and family counseling. He was transferred to St. George, Utah, in 1996. He retired from LDS Social Services in 2002 but not from social work. He acquired an international adoption agency and placed over 1,000 children from Haiti, China and Ethiopia with families across the country. He had a private counseling practice and was working with groups of men and women arrested for domestic violence until three weeks prior to his passing.
Kent was very active in the LDS church, and his main goal since baptism was that he wanted to live a life that would enable him to live with his Heavenly Father in “never-ending happiness.” He was a Branch President, District President, Elders Quorum Presidency, High Priest Group Leader, Teacher, Scoutmaster, Ward and Stake Missionary, High Councilor, Bishop and Temple Ordinance Worker. However, his favorite position was that of a teacher. He loved to work with the youth of the church.
Kent also had another goal of never being poor, so along with his profession, he also had many side businesses. He purchased a wild rice processing plant when he lived in Minnesota and sold wild rice to upscale restaurants in San Francisco and Los Angeles. He sold Jotul wood stoves, trampolines, jewelry and pool tables when he moved to Utah. He loved the Sacred Grove, church history, attending the temple, drag racing, BYU football, In & Out burgers, cruises, M&M peanuts, the Beach Boys, the Beatles, the Eagles and Queen music probably in that order. He acquired his “high school dream car” later in life, the ’32 Chevrolet. He was proud of all of his children and loved them very much and adored his 20 grandchildren.
Kent was preceded in death by his parents, his twin brother Keith and his son Bryan. He is survived by his wife Lynn, their seven children and 20 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Aug. 20, at 10 a.m. in the Bloomington Hills 6th Ward Chapel, 750 East Ft. Pierce Drive North, St. George, Utah. Visitations will be held Friday 6-7 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd. and on Saturday prior to the service, 9-9:45 a.m. at the church. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. in the Cedar City Cemetery, 685 North Main Street, Cedar City, Utah.
Click here to live stream the service.
Many thanks to the Bloomington Hills 6th Ward members and Relief Society.
Arrangements are under the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221. Visit the Metcalf Mortuary website for condolences, complete obituary and funeral listings.