Maricopa’s Kent Dodge passed away on November 5, 2020 at the Hospice of the Valley in Chandler, Arizona, surrounded by his wife and partner of more than 41 years, Kathy, and his children. He was born on his August 17, 1950, in Safford, Arizona, to Rex and Mildred (Micki) Dodge, joined by his older sister Linda and younger brother Bruce.
Kent has many wonderful memories of growing up in Safford. Kent was always mischievous and took great pleasure in torturing her older brother, Linda. Kent always called his mother Mickey a saint. He loved her and she loved him. He didn’t want to admit it, but he was quite the “mom’s boy”! He attended school in Safford and graduated from Safford High School in 1968. He played his football first string, his ends offensively tight and his tackles defensive. After high school, he attended the EAC for a year and was drafted. He returned to Vietnam in 1971, repairing helicopters as a hydraulics expert and serving the country as a door gunner.
Kent started working for Phelps Dodge in 1972 after a brief stint as a butcher. In 1983, Kent returned to Phoenix’s DeVry He Institute school. During this time he married Kathy Johnson in 1984. Kent graduated cum laude with a degree in electrical engineering in 1985 and got a job at National Semiconductor in Tucson. Their first child was born in August 1989 – Lacey Leola Dodge. Shortly after his birth, Kent returned to mining and moved his family to Elko, Nevada, where he began working in his mining business. A second child, Dennis Sean Dodge, was born in his 1993.
Kent’s first love was family. When he wasn’t working on household chores or working, Kent was spotted at the golf course or watching tournaments on TV. Golf was a lifelong joy inherited and shared by Kent’s father, Rex, and his brother Bruce, Kent’s words of love were acts of service and gifts of time. Kent didn’t always verbalize his affections. If anything, making sure to piss off those he loved most, Kent made sure he was always there when he was needed the most.
Kent worked for Elko before returning to Arizona in 2002. Kent worked for Fisher Sand and Gravel and traveled the southeastern United States repairing crushing equipment. Fisher moved to Maricopa with his family in 2007.
A few years later, Kent started having health problems. Turns out he had his hepatitis C, probably from his years in the military, and hepatitis C was attacking his liver. After seeking specialists, Kent was recommended to cure hepatitis C with a new triple treatment.After waiting for FDA approval, Kent finally took his 1-in-1 to cure hepatitis in 2011. I started treatment for a year. During this time, Kent continued to work on taxing treatments. In March 2012, it was discovered during an MRI that he had developed primary liver cancer. His only cure is a liver transplant. He was placed on his transplant list in September 2012 and had the transplant in March 2013.
Kent is strong and his determination allowed him to return to work just one month after the transplant. Kent’s new liver was working wonderfully, but unfortunately this didn’t last.After years of procedures and liver modifications, Kent was put on the transplant list again.Miraculously, He received his second call in June 2017 and underwent a second liver transplant. On his second transplant, he became very ill and took several months to recover.Shortly after his discharge from the hospital, Kent fell and fractured his hip and was hospitalized for many more weeks. became.
In late 2019, Kent began experiencing severe shortness of breath and was put on oxygen. I left home on
Through all the trials, Kent kept fighting. He wanted to be here to watch them grow. On October 31, 2020, Kent suffered a stroke that affected both sides of his brain. A warrior, Kent laid down his weapon and passed away on November 5th, 2020. He fought long and hard to be with his family, but it became too much. He deserved more painless peace.
And even when the warrior sun has set, its light still lingers around us.
Jorge Manrique
Kent was a wonderful son, brother, husband, father and grandfather who passed on many life lessons to his children. I tried to He is survived by his sister Linda Hawkins, brother Bruce Dodge (Susan Dodge), wife Kathy, daughter Lacy Carnell (Alexander), son Sean Dodge (Julie) and four beautiful grandchildren (Kirsten Dodge, Xander Rex, Grayson Randolph Carnell, Maverick Kent). In addition to Dodge, many nieces and nephews. Kent had died by his mother Mildred (Micki), his father Rex, and his brother-in-law JB Hawkins.
We ask that the bereaved family register as an organ donor. Donations saved Kent’s life not once but twice.
A cemetery service with military honors will take place at Pima Cemetery on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 11am. After the service, we will have lunch at Pima’s Relief Society Building in the LDS Highway Chapel.
