Joe’s Eulogy

“On behalf of our family, I thank you for you presence. Your coming today is a demonstration of the love, honor and respect you have for the life of Joseph Maughan Kent II better known by many as Joe or for those who have known him since birth, Joey. We have received an outpouring of love from many of you through the telephone and written notes and because of answers to yours and our prayers, we have been uplifted by the gentle comforting spirit of the Holy Ghost. Having knowledge of the gospel message of Jesus Christ and his plan of happiness has given my family the strength to carry on. I know that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love my family. These truths are the very essence of the life of Joe.

Joe was born on Labor Day September 2, 1974. After a prolonged labor, Joe arrived weighing a whopping 9 lbs. 12 oz., the largest baby in the nursery. In his second year a sister arrived, and we moved to Lake Isabella. At just under 3 years of age, Joe saved the life of his sister Jenny. We had recently moved into our new home that had an unfenced pool, and 16 month old toddler, Jenny, fell into the pool. Joe cried out for help and I came running and scooped her out as she spewed water from her mouth. Jenny and Joe have always had an incredible bond, consistently supporting and encouraging the other to achieve their goals.

Joe loved to spend time with his extended family. Pickup soccer and softball games with the cousins, Becky, Mindy, Josh, Timmy, Dave, Natalie and aunt and uncles was one of his fondest memories. Summers were spent swimming, and bike riding and trips to The Saddleflask for treats. Joe was active in youth soccer, cub scouts, boy scouts and ventured briefly into politics as President of Wallace Elementary School. Loving teachers nurtured our boy during those years and we are ever grateful to them. In March 1984 Joe’s clumsiness was thought to be his rapid growing body, but within a month we learned of the cause. A month later a flu hit our home leaving Joe so weak and lacking in coordination that he had to crawl for a week to get around. We had been told it would be years before this would happen. We were all devastated wondering how this could happen so quickly, but he did recover and walked until he was almost 15 years old. Joe had many childhood friends that helped him transition into the use of a wheelchair. No one dared to mock Joe, or they would suffer dearly at the hands of all his friends. Having seen Joe grow and develop, these friends found ways to include him in everyday activities. From scout hikes to pack saddle caves, racing wheelchairs through parks, towing him behind their bikes, taking him out on the lake on wave runners, carrying him to the top of the gymnasium at a Lakers Championship game, riding the waves at Carpinteria State Beach. Why did they do it? They loved being around Joe. He was a jokester. Never a whiner. One evening a couple of female high school friends took him the local theater. Being unfamiliar with how to maneuver the wheelchair led to his falling out of his chair. The ladies were befuddled and unable to get him back into the chair, but Joe just laughed it off, reassuring them that it was no big deal. Other people came to the rescue with no harm done.

Joe excelled in school. His love of sports led him to follow baseball and basketball. His Grandpa Whittleton and Uncle Mark made sure that he followed the San Diego Padres and the LA Lakes. He attended 4 Padres World Series games, 1 Dodger World Series game thanks to Terri Boyle’s Family. 1 Lakers Championship game in the 1990’s thanks to Kenny Roberts and his connection to the Lakers. As a family we traveled to warm weather climates that would allow Joe to continue his love of swimming and snorkeling. He travel to St Thomas Virgin Island, St John Virgin Island, Cayman Islands, Aruba, Maui and Kauai. Many wondered why there was so much traveling during those years, but my daddy always told me to bail hay when there was hay to bail. There was no putting off until next year. There was limited time and no one knew the future.

As you can surely understand, Joe mourned the loss of things he was unable to do. He had trouble understanding people who would not take the initiative to get out and achieve. He knew that Life is short. He also understood life is to be lived, not waiting around for life to happen to you. Upon graduation from High School, he desired more education and challenges. He wanted to graduate from college in four years. His loving Mother assured that he would by continuing her education along with his. His determination was an inspiration for all the students in his college classes. Many of his friends have expressed that Joe’s determination was inspiration to them to reach for loftier goal.

Regardless of his challenges, Joe was always concerned with the well being of others. His smile was infectious, his jokes were corny, and his compliments and concern for other was genuine.

His limitations required him to rely upon his trusted computer for pursuing his interest and communicating with distant friends. He was always concerned with getting the fastest download speed for his computer. Then it was getting fasted processor in his computer. The computer allowed him to advance his understanding of gospel principals, read worthy books, study Sunday school lessons, read the Scriptures, and even watch Padre Baseball over the internet. Many of you have been the recipient of forwarded emails from Joe, the internet postmaster. He was always grateful to receive your emails with information and details about your lives. He was always grateful of the little things that people would do for him.

What an honor it is to have Joe in our family. He understands that God loves him, and that he will not be denied any blessing promised to God’s children. He knows that He will have all the missed opportunities during Christ’s millennial reign. His entire life was spent preparing for where he is now. Now free of his diseased body, free of his wheelchair and glasses, Joe is now serving a mission that his frail body did not allow him to do when he was 19 years old. He just won’t be riding a bicycle like the missionaries you see around towns. We all, even his little 3 year old niece Elle, morn his departure for this mission, but she understands that now he not encumbered by his frail body any longer. He is now free to run, jump, and talk without difficulty. What joy he must now feel. I pray that we may all seek to become worthy to return with honor as Joe has done to live with our Heavenly Father. This, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. “ Given by Maughan Kent  (our father)