1/27/1946 - 7/21/2024
- Bradenton
Kent Stanley Morgan, 78, of Bradenton, Florida, passed away peacefully at home on July 21, 2024, surrounded by his wife and three daughters. He took his final breath while holding hands with those who loved him most.
Kent was born in Waukegan, Illinois on January 27, 1946, to Adrion Charles Morgan and Carla Jensen Morgan. He cherished his upbringing in Libertyville, Illinois, where he graduated from Libertyville High School in 1964. Kent had fond memories of water skiing with his buddies, driving his 1929 Pontiac in local parades, attending Boys State, and being a life guard and camp counselor at Adler Park. He graduated from MacMurray College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, and worked for the Illinois Board of Higher Education in Chicago. While living in Evanston, Kent enjoyed sailing on Lake Michigan and riding his Triumph motorcycle to both coasts of the US. He returned to graduate school at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, where he earned his MBA with a major in Organizational Development. It was there he met Susan, who became his wife and best friend for the next 50 years. Upon graduation he was recruited to work for the Human Resources Division of The Upjohn Pharmaceutical Company in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Kent retired from the Medical Affairs Division and enjoyed living in Kalamazoo for over 30 years, where he and his family created many lasting memories.
Among his many blessings in life, Kent always believed his greatest was his family. He was a loving husband, a doting father, and a proud grandfather. His positive outlook on life, adventurous spirit, and warm, empathetic nature were evident in all aspects of his life. He shared his love for water skiing, downhill skiing, sailing, backpacking, hiking, photography, and music with his family. He was an exceptional videographer, woodworker, remote control glider builder, and "master fixer" of all things. He spent his life volunteering with numerous non-profit organizations, both in Kalamazoo and Sarasota. As a grandfather, Kent adored his six grandchildren, often spending countless hours babysitting and entertaining them with his "Donald Duck" voice, despite having grandkids in three different corners of the country.
In 2005, Kent and Susan became "snowbirds", dividing their time between Holland, Michigan and Sarasota, Florida. Summers were spent sailing the Great Lakes and Canada, while winters were spent enjoying Siesta Key Beach and the gulf coast. After becoming full-time Florida residents, Kent and Susan enjoyed traveling, attending the theater and cabaret performances, exploring new cuisines, and game nights and gatherings with friends. Kent was always eager to learn new things and to help others do the same. In retirement, he channeled his passion for technology and applied his computer skills to teaching hundreds of adult students about the latest Apple products and software.
Kent was preceded in death by his beloved parents; his sister, Sally Schmidt; and his grandson, Knox VanEck. He is survived by his wife, Susan Yaden Morgan; their three daughters, Jennifer Cuhaciyan (Christopher) of Boise, Idaho, Lindsay Hartzog (Michael) of Tampa, Florida, and Rachel Morgan VanEck (Matt) of West Hartford, Connecticut; six grandchildren, Sophie Cuhaciyan, Ellie Cuhaciyan, Grayson Hartzog, Cooper Hartzog, Jett VanEck, and Arden VanEck; brother-in-law, Michael Schmidt of Libertyville, Illinois; and nieces and nephews, Diane Carpenter (David), Julie Jilek, Michael Schmidt, Jr., and Jay Schmidt.
A celebration of Kent's life will be held in Holland, Michigan at a later date. If you would like to honor his passing, please make a donation to the Tidewell Hospice Foundation at 3550 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239, or to your favorite charity, in his memory.
