Obituary for Bethany Kent

Bethany Kent

August 21, 1982 – October 11, 2019

Bethany Andrea Kent, resident of Schertz, Texas, passed away on Friday, October 11, 2019. She was 37 years old. A funeral ceremony for Bethany will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Blackwell. Following the ceremony, Bethany will be laid to rest at Blackwell Cemetery with full military honors. Friends and loved ones may pay their respects at Trout Funeral Home in Blackwell on Friday, October 25th from 10am to 8pm. Casket bearers will be: Justin Gordon, Lance Weant, David Deppen, Bradley Kent, Seth Roese, and Juan “Chico” Ramirez.

Bethany was born on August 21, 1982 in Blackwell, Oklahoma. She grew up in Blackwell and graduated from Blackwell High School as part of the Class of 2000. After high school, she joined the United States Air Force, not to change herself, but to change the Air Force.

Master Sergeant Bethany A. Kent received many medals of recognition for her outstanding service. Among them is the Meritorious Service Medal awarded to her on May 14, 2015. This is the summery of her accomplishments associated with that award. Master Sergeant Bethany A. Kent distinguished herself by outstanding achievement as Noncommissioned Officer in Charge and Personnel Support for Contingency Operations Liaison Officer, 966th Air Expeditionary Squadron, 466th Air Expeditionary Group, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Afghanistan, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. During this period, while in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, and under the threat of indirect fire and insurgent attacks, Sergeant Kent provided flawless personnel support to Air Forces Central Command’s largest squadron comprised of 625 Joint Expeditionary Tasked and Individual Augmentee Airmen stationed at 21 forward operating bases across 252,000 square miles of Afghanistan. Her steadfast leadership proved critical to base recovery efforts for 50 indirect fire attacks, one active shooter incident, and two mass casualty events wherein she rapidly achieved 100 percent squadron accountability in less than 1 hour. She meticulously validated 485 personnel movements, initiated 1,500 personnel accountability database updates, and processed 157 waivers and 12 remission packages, resulting in an 83 percent reduction in deviations over four months. Finally, her outstanding efforts earned her recognition as the 466th Air Expeditionary Group’s Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Month for January 2015. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Kent reflect great credit upon herself and the United States Air Force. This is an example of her exemplary career in the United States Air Force.

Bethany will be greatly missed by her husband, Chris Kent of Schertz, TX, adorable sons, Kytan and Ryker Kent of Schertz, TX, mom and dad, Tobie and Wade Wright of Fairfax, OK, biological dad, Jerry Brown of Blackwell, brother, Tyler Wright and wife, Jessie of Blackwell, sister, Hunter Gordon and husband Justin of Guthrie, OK, grandparents, Shirley Brown of Blackwell, Andy and June Weant of Cameron, OK, Collette and Marion Wright of Blackwell, nieces and nephews, Tylee Wright, Rylee, Raegan, and Vash Shepard, and Wyatt Kent as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and military family.

Bethany was preceded in death by her grandpa, Paul Brown and grandma, Bert Kelley.

Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home of Blackwell.

Source: Trout Funeral Home