Jerard A. Kent

Jerard A. Kent, 79 Kent Oil Company Lakeland " Jerard Allen Kent, 79, of Lakeland, passed away on May 25, 2012 due to heart failure. Jerry was born in New Orleans, LA on March 4, 1933 and moved to Lakeland in 1959. He served in the United States Army and the first Special Forces (Green Berets) unit in the Army Reserve; he rose to the rank of captain. He was Vice-President of Finance for Wellman-Lord Engineering and retired owner of Kent Oil Company. He was an avid hunter and enjoyed fishing with friends and family. Jerry was a dedicated member of St. Joseph""s Catholic Church. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus for over 50 years. He served on the boards of the Boys and Girls Club, the American Cancer Society, the United Way of Central Florida, PTO of St. Joseph School and Santa Fe Catholic High School, the Polk County Sheriff""s Association, the American Legion, the Saint Leo College Board of Trustees for 25 years, and the Highland City Elementary School SAC. He is survived by his wife Shirley Watson Kent, his sons, Jerard (Rita) Jr., Paul (Martha), Jeffrey (Cindy) and Gregory P. Kent, his daughters, Hope (Roger) Powell, Judey (Tony) Striz, and Debbie (Kenneth) Zimmerman, 19 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and brothers, James (Carol) and John (Sandy) Kent. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am at St. Joseph""s Catholic Church on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Visitation and rosary at Heath Funeral Chapel on Monday, May 28, 2012 from 5:00 " 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Avenue, Auburndale, FL 33823. Service: 05/29/2012 St. Joseph\'s Catholic Church Heath Funeral Chapel Visitation: 05/28/2012 Heath Funeral Chapel