Roll Call Tribute

Published in Reno (NV) Gazette-Journal on Feb. 19, 2017

George Semones Kent
George Semones Kent

March 16, 1929 -

January 30, 2017

"And though it is much to be a nobleman, it is more to be a gentleman." A Southern gentleman to his core, George has been described as a man of integrity, honesty and loyalty. His word was his bond. As his cousin shares, George was deeply thoughtful and a man with beautiful manners. Indeed, George was an honorable man and a true gentleman. Combined with a wonderful sense of humor and an amazing "can do" attitude, it was an absolute pleasure to be in his company. George made friends so easily and took a genuine interest in everyone. George was an incredible optimist and as such was a remarkable role model in maintaining a positive attitude about life.

Born and raised in Ft Worth Texas, George began building model planes and ships around the age of 10. Thus began a lifetime of inventive creations and creative inventions. George could build anything and he could fix anything. He loved a challenge of difficult projects that required out of the box thinking. George was extremely bright and loved all things mechanical and graduated from Texas A and M in 1950 . He obtained degrees in both Mechanical and Petroleum Engineering. George was the epitome of "he believed he could so he did." He was truly a creative genius. While at Texas A and M George made a machine to track the sun in orbit.

In the early 1950's, George became a First Lieutenant with the US Army and served in Korea for almost 2 years as an Ordnance Supply Officer supervising 117 enlisted and civilians in a tank reclaiming unit. For his service in Korea, he received the Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars as well as the United Nations Service Medal.

The expertise he absorbed at Texas A and M, as well as during the tremendous amount of enjoyable time he spent building and repairing complicated equipment and machines in his very sophisticated home machine shop, served him well throughout a very successful career with Chevron. Because of his excellence in both management and technical fields, he spent many years with Chevron's Marketing Management Team and was an expert in Fuels and Lubricants. He represented the company in many International Trade Associations and in this capacity George was an important contact for many of Chevron's largest customers. He was instrumental in building Chevron Terminals in distant lands from Tahiti to Alaska.

A passionate outdoorsman, George traveled to Africa, Tibet and Mongolia on several expeditions and fished in Guatemala, Mexico and Hawaii. He gave freely of his time to several Conservation Organizations and was especially dedicated to Nevada Bighorns Unlimited. Well into his 80's, George continued to build water guzzlers in the very arid Nevada mountains so that the wild bighorn sheep and other desert animals would have water to survive in that harsh environment. George also enjoyed being with his Reno Elks Lodge comrades and participated in and ardently supported its philanthropic activities.

And George was blessed to be married to two wonderful women. George and Mary were happily married for over 40 years after meeting while they were both serving in the military. Mary was in the Nursing Corp and, as a long time friend recalls, although Mary out-ranked George, he did not let that deter him from proposing. They loved traveling and entertaining friends around the country. After Mary passed, he found love and more happy adventures when he met and married Patti Grisham. George often said that Patti was "his great friend." They thoroughly enjoyed traveling the world from Paris to New York to Panama as well as throughout the US where they too visited friends all over the country. They were always happiest when surrounded by family and friends.

George is survived by Judy Kent Hayes and husband Steve Hayes, grandchildren Connie Lynn Kent, Tiffany Kent, Cassie Kent and great grandson Dax Matthew Kent, Andrea Walhof Grisham, Julie Grisham and husband Ken Winters and grandchildren Jonneke Walhof Grisham and Lucas Grisham, nieces and nephews and many family members and friends.

George is predeceased by Mary Kent and very recently Patti Grisham, his son Matthew Kent and brother Larry Kent.

George's wishes are for a small gathering with Military Honors to celebrate and remember his life and to rest beside Mary at the Northern Nevada Veteran's Memorial Cemetery.

George would be honored if you would consider a donation to the George Kent and Patricia Grisham Sul Ross Scholarship that they established in 2010 which provides academic scholarships for the cadets of the Corps of Cadets at Texas A and M.

Texas A & M Foundation

George Kent and Patricia Grisham Sul Ross Scholarship

401 George Bush Dr.

College Station Texas 77840.

And like his beloved Patti, George would want us to be happy for him.

He would want us to be kind to one another and to nurture creativity and to look for and recognize the potential that exists in every moment. And to remember that "when you are sorrowful look again in your heart and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight."