Kent Lee Chesney – proud father, jovial grandpa, lover of animals, and good friend of many –died December 15, 2018 at the Hays Medical Center at the age of 71.
Kent was born October 18, 1947, in Stockton, Kansas to Warren Kent and Wanda Zee Chesney. Always a joker and prankster, he graduated from Woodston High School in 1965. Later, while working on a custom cutting crew, he was one of many Rooks County farmers who brought home and married a North Dakota girl. During his short marriage to Sandra Hackett Rogers, his first two children, Phillip and Angie were born. In approximately 1967, he joined the United States Navy. During his 4-year service to his country, he was a “plank owner” in the commissioning crew of the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier. He told tales of his escapades in such foreign lands as Greece and the Mediterranean Sea.
In 1976, Kent married the love of his life, Susan Renee Baxter. Sue added to the family her daughter, Monica, and they later had two sons, Andy and Scott. For more than 20 years, he worked from dawn to dusk as a farmer, ranch hand, and cattle foreman. But together, Kent and Sue also lived life to its fullest. They loved to eat and dance at the Branding Iron in Speed, Kansas every weekend, where they gained some of their closest friends.
In 1998, he cheated death the first time when he suffered a serious farming accident. After months of multiple surgeries and therapies, he surprised his family at Christmas 1998 by standing from his wheelchair. Although he never farmed again, he found a renewed dedication to his family and threw himself into a new passion – foster care.
Kent and Sue opened their home to their first foster children in the early 2000’s. Numerous children came to the Chesney house during traumatic times in their lives, to find themselves a bit of stability and a warm welcome into the family, regardless of their length of stay. Kent and Sue decorated and redecorated bedrooms in an attempt to make each child feel at home. In approximately 2005, two young sisters arrived at the ages of 3 and 6. After years of loving the girls as their own, the bond Kent and Sue felt in their hearts became official when Marisa and Allie were adopted in 2007.
In 2013, Kent’s life took another daunting turn when Sue died unexpectedly. Faced with life as the single dad of two preteen girls, he threw himself into the daily care of his young daughters. Unfortunately, life only became more difficult when just weeks into single fatherhood, he was faced with a life-threatening medical condition. Although he spent months in and out of hospitals, with help from friends and family, he eventually overcame that year’s challenges.
Kent’s recognizable belly was a literal billboard for his favorite one-liners, worn on his beloved t-shirts. Very seldom was he seen without a crazy shirt – whether it was around Stockton, at a doctor’s appointment, or even at his grandson’s wedding rehearsal. He loved the chickens, ducks, peacocks, and donkeys he accumulated at his “Bet Your Sweet A** Farm”, and hardly profited from the sale of his fresh eggs, because he so willingly shared them with his favorite friends.
Kent is survived by his seven children: Monica Engelhardt of Salina; Phillip (Wendy) Chesney of Quincy, Illinois; Angie (Mark) Coble of Salina; Andy (Kim) Chesney of Wichita; Scott (Brooklyn) Chesney of Pratt; and Marisa and Allie Chesney of Stockton. He is also survived by many grandchildren who love him: McKentzee Engelhardt; Tyler, Taite (Kylie), Timeri, and Trevor Herrington; his namesake Kent, Kalin, and Kolton Chesney; David, Derek, Danae, Dylan, Ava, and Daron Chesney; Stefan and Logan Coble; and Grace Godsey and Sophie (RG) Yule. Some of his greatest smiles also came from spending time with his young great-grandchildren, Avah Engelhardt and Jeremiah Herrington. He is also survived by his siblings, Keith (Patty) Chesney of Woodston; Kevin (Sherri) Chesney of Santa Maria, California; and Judy (Steve) Blecha of Woodston, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and multiple cousins. He also leaves behind countless numbers of friends whose lives were undoubtedly enriched by his easy grin and teasing nature.
Kent was unique in his beliefs and requested no formal visitation or church services. His explicit instructions to his children regarding the content of his funeral have been heeded. A celebration of Kent’s life will be held at the Stockton City Hall at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 21. Lunch will follow, and a graveside service is planned for 2:00 p.m. at the Survey Cemetery south of Woodston. Memorials may be made to the Allie and Marisa Chesney Educational Fund and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st, Stockton, KS 67669. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.plumeroverlease.com
