Arthur Kent Young

Our “wise and wonderful” husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, Arthur Kent Young, passed away peacefully at home on August 23, 2025, after a valiant battle against leukemia.

Kent was born May 17, 1952, in Heber City, Utah, to Arthur B and Ardeth Fern Giles Young. Kent was the third of six children and was raised in Heber City with his five sisters. His sisters teased him for years that he was the “golden child” whom their parents favored, and although he always denied this publicly, he privately admitted that it might have been true at times. Kent learned the value of hard work from his parents and worked in many different jobs throughout his life. At a very young age, he collected bottles for recycling and had a paper route. Kent loved sports and was an accomplished athlete. As a grade school student, he was featured in Sports Illustrated with his power tumbling team. In high school, he was honored as an all-state athlete in four different sports: football, baseball, wrestling, and track. Kent graduated from Wasatch High School and was elected student body president in both junior high and high school.

After high school, Kent served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central America Mission. He attended college at Utah State University and later Brigham Young University, where he met his eternal companion, Connie Kellett. The two were married in the Provo Temple on November 18, 1978. Their marriage was blessed with two sons. Kent spent most of his adult career working in retail as a manager at LaBelle’s (later Best) of Provo and then as a manager in corporate/executive security at NuSkin, also in Provo. His co-workers and employees admired his work ethic, sense of humor, and loyal friendship. Kent loved learning and was a voracious reader. He always had a book or a difficult crossword puzzle ready to go. He was a formidable competitor in cerebral contests like Trivial Pursuit, Jeopardy, and chess. In spite of his family’s eye rolls, he always stopped to read historical markers on road trips and had to read every last bit of posted information when visiting museums and national parks.

Kent shared his hobbies and spent his free time with his family. He loved to golf with Connie and his sons–the perfect foursome–and he spent a great deal of time teaching, coaching, and playing with his sons in various sports over the years. An Eagle Scout, Kent loved scouting, camping, and spending time outdoors. He was an avid BYU fan and loved to root for the Cougars, especially in football and basketball. Neighbors always knew it was game day when Kent flew his BYU flag and illuminated his home in blue and white lights. In his later years, Kent was a fantastic grandpa to his six grandchildren. He spent countless hours playing with them, doing arts and crafts, reading with them, and he went to all of their sports games, music recitals, and academic events.

Along with being a family man, Kent’s greatest ambition in life was to be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. He held many callings in the Church, including bishop, bishopric counselor, scoutmaster, stake high councilor, and clerk. He was a talented and engaging teacher of truth to primary children, youth, college students, and adults in various teaching assignments. His favorite callings were 11-year-old scout leader and home teacher. He was usually assigned to home teach the widows of the ward, and he cared for them like a son, visiting them frequently, helping them with all kinds of needs, watching BYU games with them, and shoveling what must have been tons of snow over many years.

He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Deanna Harmon. He is survived by his wife, Connie, two sons: Nicolas (Heather) Young, and Bradley (Susie) Young; six grandchildren: Allie, Zach, Emily, Chloe, Robbie, and Mikey; and sisters Laurel (Brent) Roylance, Jane (Richard) Spillman, Valerie Young, and Sharon (Jim) Brisk.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at the Springwater 1st Ward chapel, 422 E 400 S, Vineyard. Viewings will be held on Monday, September 1, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Wheeler & Sundberg Funeral Homes, 495 S State Street, Orem, and prior to the service on Tuesday from 10:30 to 11:30 am at the Springwater 1st Ward chapel. Interment will be at the Provo Cemetery immediately following the funeral services.

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