Dora Beatrice Kent was born the youngest of 12 children to O.S. and
Gracie Watson on a farm near Rocky, Oklahoma on October 11, 1932. Dora
B. moved to the Leedey community with her parents and family when she
was three years old. She attended Leedey schools and moved to Butler,
Oklahoma in the middle of her senior year where she graduated from
Butler High School in 1950. Dora B. married Gene Mouse on July 27,
1951 in Leedey. They had two children, Terri Margene and Monte Lynn.
Dora B. was a godly woman of great courage. She survived the Leedey
tornado in 1947 and the unexpected death of her husband, Gene, 1971.
She instilled faith in her children and comforted them with her strong
belief that god causes all things to work togeether for the good of
those who love Him. Dora B. and her children were richly blessed when
she married Dean Kent on August 3, 1973 in Arapaho, Oklahoma. They
lived in Arapaho until Dora B. retired from the Custer County
Treasuer's Office in 1982.
Dora B. was a true "keeper of the home." She and Dean were successful
in blending two families into one. Dora enjoyed seeing that her family
was pampered and loved. Dean brought two sons, Dan and Chris, into the
family and Dora and Dean would always say that each of them had
adopted two children but they just couldn't remember which two! All of
their children knew how much they were loved and Dora B. had a unique
gift making each one feel special. She loved to cook and her children
and grandchildren have many fond memories of sitting at her table and
enjoying their favorite foods prepared by their "favoite" one.
Realizing that her family would need her advice in the kitchen in
furture generations, Dora B. wrote a cookbook entitled, "Kent's
Kourntry Kitchen" in 1993. Many people in Western Oklahoma as well as
across the country have benefited from her desire to bless her family
with her love for the Lord and her fove for the good food. Heprovided.
Dora B. loved to work with her hands and amde quilts for each of her
children as well as all of her ten grandchildren. Dors B.'s family
will treasure these gifts of her hands and her heart for many
generations to come. She also enjoyed making decorated cakes for
brithdays and anniversaries. Dora B. always went the "extra mile" for
everyone. She once carried a decorated cake on her lap from Elk City
to Mexico City, Mexico, to surprise her daughter who lived there. As a
member of the Elk City Homemakers Club, Dora B. participated in
activities to improve her home and her community. She took great
pleasure in serving others and she believed that if something was
worth doing it was worth doing right!
Dora B. passed from the arms of her family into the arms of her Lord
on October 17, 2001, in her home. Dora B. will forever be loved and
highly esteemed by those she has left to honor her life. She is
survived by her loving husband and best friend, Dean. Her daughter and
son-in-law, Terri and Terry Fanning of Lubbock, Texas. Her sons and
daughters-in-law, Monte and Danna Kent of Arapaho, Oklahoma, Dan and
Cheryl Kent of Enid, Oklahoma, and Chris and Brenda Kent of Huntington
Beach, California. Her grandchildren, justin and Jessica Kent of
Laredo, Texas, Kirk and Margaret Fanning of lubbock, Texas, Gina and
Bryce Thornton of Enid, Oklahoma, Jamie and Aaron Cravy of Lubbock,
Texas, Katie and Kara Kent of Huntington Beach, California and Lynsi,
Taylor and Connder Kent of Arapaho, Oklahoma. Her great grandchildren,
Caden Kent of Laredo, Texas, Brett Ghornton of Enid, Oklahoma and
Jaden Fanning of Lubbock, Texas. Her brother, Roy Watson of Oklahoma
City and her sisters, Fannie Bell Baker of Butler, Oklahoma, Vera
Bailey and Icie Mae Watson of Leedey, Oklahoma, Betty Jo Mashburn of
Durant, Oklahoma and Vesta Warden of Palm Springs, Oklahoma as well as
a host of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her
parents, four brothers, Troy, Carl, Foy and Ricky Watson, and one
sister, Velma Stroud.
A celectration of Dora B.'s life was held on Saturday, October 20,
2001 at 2:00 p.m. at the Second and Adams Church of Christ in Elk
City, Oklahoma, with Terry Fanning officiating and assisted by Tom
Harguess. Burial was in the Berlin Cemetery, Berlin, Roger Mills
County, Oklahoma under the direction of Whinery-Savage Funeral
service, Elk City. At Dors B's request, the casket was closed at her
service but was open at the funeral home until the service time. Dora
B. has requested that any memorials be made to Sunset international
Bible Institute, 3723 34 Street, Lubbock, Texas 79410.