Kent LaMar Worthington

Kent LaMar Worthington, second son of Gean Worthington and Nelda Belliston Worthington, arrived in this world February 9, 1936, in Nephi, Utah, and returned home October 13, 2025, Bountiful, Utah.

His was a family of four boys (Don, Kent, JKarl, and Boyd), full of energy and activities of all sorts, which his mother tirelessly supported. He was raised in Payson, Utah, where his parents owned Gean’s Photo Shop, providing photography services for the community. Gean studied at the Eastman Kodak School in New York, and his mother provided the editing services. They worked together to raise their boys. Kent loved drama, music, playing the clarinet (which began a lifelong love of jazz), building things (eventually even a home and a legendary boat that graced Lake Powell), and skiing. He and his Scoutmaster even obtained a U.S. Forest Service permit to clear a few trees and build one of Utah’s first “ski resorts” up Payson Canyon, a one-chair wonder called Loafer Mountain. He co-founded the Davis County Ski School that operated for years and helped hundreds of kids learn to ski. He skied until he was 87 years young. He never stopped learning and was often found with his nose in a book, especially in his later years, always accompanied by a “Worthington-sized” bowl of ice cream.

He met the love of his life, Connie Smith, while attending Utah State University, and they married in the Logan Temple in 1956. Upon their graduations, Kent began teaching industrial arts in the public schools while they built a home themselves in Logan after the school day ended. Connie supported him in his endeavors to expand his education as they moved around the West, earning a master’s degree at Brigham Young University and his Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Arizona State. Returning to Utah, they settled in Bountiful as Kent became Utah’s assistant superintendent for vocational education and was instrumental in developing applied technology centers (ATCs) and custom-fit training programs, which expanded opportunities for young people to learn skills and trades and improve their lives. He was happy about that.

He and Connie had four children: Wendy (Dave) Roberts, Jeny (Kurt) Petersen, Ned (Lora) Worthington, and Andrea (Todd) Snarr. They developed and enjoyed deep friendships with the wonderful people of the 23rd Ward, where they have lived for over 60 years. He was a proud Grandpa to 11 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. He taught many of them to ski, and many a happy memory was made with Grandpa on the snowy slopes. As Dad, he was also one to teach the value of hard work and integrity. It is part of his legacy for his family. We all know how to work and how to keep our word.

Kent was a do-er. He could often be found shoveling snow for a neighbor, helping a daughter on vacation keep her garden alive, giving a blessing, or any number of helpful endeavors. He loved volunteering for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and drove athletes to the ski venues. It was important to him to be a good steward. He could fix almost anything--and did. Kent took such good care of his wife. You hardly ever saw one without the other. They were a good team. We love to walk behind them to enjoy watching them hold hands.

Kent served God in many church callings. He was a bishop, served in bishoprics, and a stake presidency, where he oversaw the bee project for the church welfare program, producing honey to feed the hungry. He was always a home teacher/minister and loved those he had the opportunity to serve. He earned a Silver Beaver for his service in Scouting. He and Connie served a mission to the Utah Ogden mission. For the last decades, he has loved serving in the temple. Serving as a temple sealer has been a highlight and delight for him. At the time of his passing, he was preparing for his service the next day. He loved the Lord.

Funeral services are planned for Monday, October 20, 2025, at the Bountiful 23rd Ward chapel at 650 East 2150 South, Bountiful, Utah 84010. A viewing will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., with the funeral to follow at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Bountiful City Cemetery.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live-stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.