Doris J Kent FEBRUARY 28, 1927 ~ JANUARY 5, 2019 (AGE 91)

Doris Bankes Kent, 91, of Green City, Missouri passed away Saturday, January 5, 2019 peacefully at home surrounded by her family one week after celebrating Christmas with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Doris was born on February 28, 1927 in Green City, MO to Floyd Whorley Bankes and Winnie Alta (Gill) Bankes. On March 5, 1949, she married Kyle Coolidge Kent at the Green City United Methodist Church and together they raised six children.

Doris lived an exemplary life of service to her country, her community and her family. When her mother died in 1934, she moved to Green City to live with her aunt and uncle until her father remarried and she returned to Omaha, Nebraska in 1940. In 1944, at the age of 17, she joined the United States Cadet Nurse Corps in Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1948 she graduated from Kansas City General Hospital School of Nursing, and in 1972, she received a BS in Nursing from Northeast Missouri State University. Throughout her nursing career, she worked as a surgical nurse at the University of Missouri Hospital, a clinic nurse at Stephens College, and a charge nurse at Kirksville Osteopathic Medical Center. She is a former member of the Missouri Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, and Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society.

In 1953, after working to put Kyle through the University of Missouri School of Veterinary Medicine, Doris and Kyle returned to Green City where Doris helped her husband open and operate Kent Veterinary Clinic. In addition, they owned and operated City Sundries in Green City for seven years while raising their six children.

Doris was active in the Green City community. She was a long-time member of the Green City United Methodist Church, serving in numerous leadership roles over the years including President and Recording Secretary of the United Methodist Women. She was also a member of the Missouri Veterinary Association Auxiliary, serving as past-president, and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, serving as Girls State Chairman. She also served as a 4-H leader for 20 years and the Kent family was honored in Kansas City as Sullivan County’s Bicentennial 4-H Family. In 1984, Doris was named Merit Mother of Missouri by the Missouri Mothers Association.
Doris and Kyle spent time traveling the world, and during her travels, Doris became interested in researching genealogy. From 1995 to 2007, she authored three books detailing the history of the lineage of the Kent, Bankes and Cleeton families.

In June 2018, Doris wrote a letter to President Donald Trump asking him to recognize the women who served in the United States Cadet Nurse Corps in World War II as veterans. This effort was supported by family, who created a social media and postcard campaign to push for legislation to support this cause. Awareness spread and led to a multi-state group that pushed for legislative changes and resulted in the recent drafting of bills in the US Senate and House of Representatives to recognize these women as veterans. Doris was pleased to see the effort represented in the media and was honored to receive special recognition as a veteran at the Green City Veterans Day Celebration in 2018.

Despite her many professional and civic accomplishments, Doris found her greatest happiness in being part of a large, energetic family. She was proud of her six children, 19 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. She was compassionate, intelligent and unwaveringly loyal to friends, family and her community. Throughout her life, she exemplified inner strength, faith and optimism and was a wonderful example of a loving and devoted mother and wife throughout the 66 years of her marriage. Doris’s family finds comfort in knowing she has now been reunited with Kyle, who passed away November 21, 2015.

She is survived by her six children: Dr. Richard Kyle Kent and wife Sherri of Green City, Missouri; Michael Lee Kent and wife Jill of Urbandale, Iowa; Shirley Kent Riley and husband Rick of Kirksville, Missouri; Patricia Kent Nullmeyer and husband Thomas of Columbia, Missouri; Thomas Dale Kent and wife Krista of Kirksville, Missouri; and William Todd Kent and wife Kristen of Columbia, MO. She is survived by 19 grandchildren: Christen Kent Potter and husband Donald; Christopher Kent; Jessica Kent Prinz and husband Adam; Jennifer Kent Reimer and husband Steve; Morgan Kent Molden and husband Brett; Mallory Kent Halverson and husband Brad; Allison Kent Uhll and husband Joe; Rachel Riley McCrate and husband Chris; Katherine Riley Eagen and husband Corey; Sarah Riley Cox and husband Greg; Michael Nullmeyer and wife Rachel; Tracy Nullmeyer Sieve and husband Curt; Bradley Nullmeyer and wife Kay; Tyler Kent and wife Gayla; Alexandra Kent; Andrew Kent and fiancé Annie Slaughter; Abbie Kent, Madison Kent, and Cassie Kent. She is also survived by 23 great grandchildren: Emma, Ava, and Max Potter; Noah and Cora Prinz; Mason Reimer; Tabitha, Finley, and Cecelia Molden; Kent and Weston Halverson; Jack, Caroline and Grayson McCrate; Hayden, Everett and Emerson Eagen; Peyton Cox; Isla Nullmeyer; Thomas, Cameron and Sophia Sieve; and Ella Kent. She is also survived by an aunt, Louise Hope of Fort Madison, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Kyle November 21, 2015; her brother, Russell Bankes; and her half-sister, Kathleen Telford.

Funeral services for Doris will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at the Green City United Methodist Church. One hour prior to the service, at 1:00 p.m., the family will be present for visitation at the same location. Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery east of Green City. Ruschmeier Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Doris may be made to the Green City United Methodist Church.