Ivins, Utah – Kent Hyrum Prisbrey, 80, slipped from this mortal life on September 14, 2016, after many years of battling cancer.

Kent passed at his home in Ivins, where he had settled for over 50 years. He was surrounded by family and friends, who had the opportunity to witness the tender mercies of a loving Heavenly Father.

Kent loved the home he built. He pulled a trailer on his lot and when it got stuck, that's where it stayed. He then built his home next to it. That humble home became the firm foundation for his 13 children and 70 plus grand and great-grandchildren! There they could come to feel of his unconditional love for all! He loved them all, adopted or not. They were the same to him.  He loved all of them, and they became his to teach, love, to feel welcome, to feel equal, to have a place of refuge for all from the storms of life.  His home was always to open to all, friends, family and strangers to all, day or night, they were all alike to him.

Kent loved his family so much!  He found joy in them. He worked so hard to instill that in each of them. To him, family was always first and that was his biggest success! He did so much for his family. He built a cabin in the desert.  Where all the grand kids loved to go there on the weekends. He taught self-reliance and how to be self-sufficient.  He taught his kids how to build something out of nothing.

Kent loved hunting, camping and many other excursions. Amongst his many excursions, he earned the nickname "Grouchy" which stuck throughout his life. Later in life, it was important for his kids to bring "Grouchy" along on their excursions as well. There he taught them to shoot and the basic skills of survival.  In those many memories, for his 80th birthday, he even went zip lining! He loved being around his family.  Kent was our HERO! He was a hero to all of us! He was the strongest person we knew. He showed us his immeasurable strength, both physically and spiritually. He encountered many trials in this life, with cancer being at the top of the list; being a Southern Utah down-winder, he battled many types and always came out on top. He was a fighter! He never quit and never gave up! When battles raged in his life, Kent was on the front lines, taking them head on.  His last wish was to have his kids continue his legacy of loving Family, Service to others, Courage and Strength.

Kent was born of goodly parents, Clarence Ladell and Mary Empey Prisbrey of Cedar City, Utah, on January 11, 1936. Those goodly parents taught Kent how to work. He did many things in this life. He was a professor at Dixie College. He worked in the cafeteria at the Nevada test site. He worked for the Washington County Newspaper in history and had many other jobs in Graphic Arts and Printing. His favorite of all was his opportunity to work with John Wayne. There, he had the opportunity to work on the movie sets and stand-in. His love and respect for John Wayne was emulated throughout his home in memorabilia.

Kent loved photography and history so much and had so many amazing photos and stories to go with them! He loved to share his pioneer history with all that would come. Kent loved his Father in Heaven and showed his love through much compassion and service to others. He loved to talk to ALL, even strangers, and share that history with them. He loved to drive around and show us all the many historical site. YES, he truly loved his heritage and his Ancestors. He wanted us to know of their love and sacrifice and would take us places that they themselves had actually walked.

Dad, we will never forget you! You truly are OUR HERO!  As God takes you in his loving arms, may you feel the arms of your family wrapped around you in a warm embrace.  Our father always said, "I may die the poorest man, money wise, but I will be the richest in the memories I have made with family!" Dad, we will always look up to you for your many sacrifice you made for us. You are the most amazing person we have ever known.  We love you "GROUCHY!  We miss you Dad!  You will forever be a part of every excursion!

Kent is survived by Eileen Christian Prisbrey, the mother to their 13 children: Kenneth (Diane), Kent Terry (Leona), Elizabeth (Michael), Karl, Clare, Mary (Steve), Lucinda, Kevin, Chris (Kim), Keith, Janie (Dennis), Tracy (Adam), and Kelton (Ashley); his sisters: Zona McAllister and Juanita Brinkerhoff spencer.  He is preceded in death by his father, Clarence LaDell Prisbrey, mother, Mary Empey Prisbrey; brothers: Clark, LaDell, Loran and Baby Prisbrey.