Kent Linford Pickering was born December 5, 1954, to Althea and Sheldon Pickering in Salt Lake City, Utah as the youngest of five children. He passed away on April 1, 2023 at St. Mark’s hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Kent was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He served a two-year proselytizing mission to Tokyo Japan, where he immersed himself in the country, food, people and especially the culture, speaking fondly of these experiences to his kids.

Kent enjoyed traveling and exploring the world. After his mission, he went on to visit Jerusalem, Mexico, and even spent several years working in Hawaii.

Kent was passionate about his heritage and tracing his ancestral roots through genealogy. He wanted to share his love of it with those around him and spent a few years as a recorder of genealogical files for the church. His favorite ancestral “claim to fame” was to Martin Harris, one of the original founders of the LDS church. He took great pride in this and spoke of their connection often. In Kent’s later years he even did many research presentations and a few podcasts on the man’s life, even going so far as to dress like Harris during those presentations.

Kent met Mary Ann Johnson when he was 40 years old in October of 1996. When they were wed, he chose to become an instant father to her three young girls. In March of 1998, their family was completed with the addition of a son. Kent and Mary Ann were married for 23 years before divorcing amicably in 2019. He worked hard to be a good father and provider to his family until the day he died. He loved all four of his kids the best way he knew how; with all his heart and was a great example to all of them.

Kent never met a buffet he didn’t like, or a family gathering that didn’t see him claim to be “socializing” while snoozing, and he always did his best “socializing” during movies, asking his kids to tell him what happened when he woke up. Every person he met instantly became his friend and he had corny Dad jokes down to a science. We will forever be chuckling about him passing away on April Fool’s Day as his final one.

He is survived by three sisters, a brother, three daughters and one son. Many friends, family, nieces, nephews, and colleagues who loved and admired him will miss him greatly.

He was a man of humor, hard work, faith, love, compassion and just the right twist of unconventional.

A memorial service will be held Friday, April 7, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 780 West 500 South, Payson, Utah.

In lieu of flowers, the family greatly appreciates small memorial donations in honor of Kent be made at GoFundMe .