Obituary for Kent Bryant Dover
To watch the live stream funeral click on the photos/videos tab above and scroll down to the link
Kent Bryant Dover was born November 13, 1922, in Cedar City, Utah to Horace Alvin Dover and
Lucy Grace Bryant Dover. He was the youngest of nine children. He died on October 12, 2021,
in Ogden, Utah one month before his 99th birthday.
Kent was raised in “Doverville” - a neighborhood on what is now the campus of Southern Utah
University. He had a happy childhood surrounded by family and friends. His red hair earned him
the nickname “Red,” which he wore proudly. He loved Cedar City and was an active participant
in the community throughout his long life.
Kent met his future wife, Bessie Peck when they were both in high school. Kent enlisted in the
Air Force during World War II and the couple wrote to each other throughout the war. Kent
piloted B-24 bombers, flying some 42 missions and 500 combat hours. He earned a silver star,
a distinguished flying cross, a Purple Heart, and other distinctions.
After the war, Kent married his sweetheart, Bessie in the St. George Utah Temple on April 24,
1945. Bessie passed away just a few days before their 75th anniversary. Kent and Bessie have
four children, whom they raised much the way Kent was raised - surrounded by a large network
of loving family and friends in his hometown of Cedar City.
Kent loved people and he put his talents to work in sales for Meadow Gold, Schilling, and the
insurance industry. His work gave him the opportunity to drive all over Southern Utah, where he
was an eyewitness to many of the historical developments across the region. He put the first
boat on Lake Powell, helped select the site for today’s Brian Head Resort, and helped build
Cedar Ridge Golf Course.
Kent and Bessie were lifetime supporters of Southern Utah University. Kent attended SUU (then
BAC) before and after his service in World War II. He played every sport, participated in school
plays, and served as class president. Kent raised his family two blocks from the university and
was a regular fixture as a referee, coach, and fan at football, basketball, gymnastics, and many
other events for over 70 years.
Kent and Bessie received Honorary Doctorate degrees from Southern Utah University in 2012.
Kent was inducted into the SUU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Athletic Hall of Fame was
re-named for him in 2017.
Kent was preceded in death by his beloved wife Bessie, his son Kelly, his parents, and four
grandchildren. His siblings and their spouses - Mabel (Clarence) Cripps, Irissa (Darwin) Nelson,
Otto (Iva) Dover, Genevieve (Raymond) Melling, Bill (Zola) Dover, Clara (Orwin) Green, Grace
(Wallace) Osborne, Dick (Elmyra) Dover - and a number of their children also preceded him in
death. What a joyful family reunion there must have been when Kent passed through the veil.
Kent leaves on this earth three living children: Tom (Tamara) Dover, Pat (Rhonda) Dover, and
Marilyn Grainger, as well as a daughter-in-law, Nancy Smyth. He will also be missed by 15
grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren, and countless close friends.
The family would like to thank Ricky Grainger, Ricky Mendini, Dean O’Driscoll, and Maree
Prince for their exceptional care and friendship. We recognize and thank many more friends and
family members who supported and visited him, especially in recent years.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 30, 2021, at the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (9th Ward) meetinghouse located at 256 South 900 West in
Cedar City.
Viewings will be held on Friday, October 29 from 6:00-8:00 PM and on Saturday, October 30
from 9:30-10:30 AM, both at the 9th Ward meetinghouse at 256 South 900 West.
The funeral will be live streamed on Facebook from the Kent and Bessie Dover Memorial group
at https://www.facebook.com/groups/229671554935084/. All friends and family are welcome to
join and share their memories here.
Kent Bryant Dover was born November 13, 1922, in Cedar City, Utah to Horace Alvin Dover and
Lucy Grace Bryant Dover. He was the youngest of nine children. He died on October 12, 2021,
in Ogden, Utah one month before his 99th birthday.
Kent was raised in “Doverville” - a neighborhood on what is now the campus of Southern Utah
University. He had a happy childhood surrounded by family and friends. His red hair earned him
the nickname “Red,” which he wore proudly. He loved Cedar City and was an active participant
in the community throughout his long life.
Kent met his future wife, Bessie Peck when they were both in high school. Kent enlisted in the
Air Force during World War II and the couple wrote to each other throughout the war. Kent
piloted B-24 bombers, flying some 42 missions and 500 combat hours. He earned a silver star,
a distinguished flying cross, a Purple Heart, and other distinctions.
After the war, Kent married his sweetheart, Bessie in the St. George Utah Temple on April 24,
1945. Bessie passed away just a few days before their 75th anniversary. Kent and Bessie have
four children, whom they raised much the way Kent was raised - surrounded by a large network
of loving family and friends in his hometown of Cedar City.
Kent loved people and he put his talents to work in sales for Meadow Gold, Schilling, and the
insurance industry. His work gave him the opportunity to drive all over Southern Utah, where he
was an eyewitness to many of the historical developments across the region. He put the first
boat on Lake Powell, helped select the site for today’s Brian Head Resort, and helped build
Cedar Ridge Golf Course.
Kent and Bessie were lifetime supporters of Southern Utah University. Kent attended SUU (then
BAC) before and after his service in World War II. He played every sport, participated in school
plays, and served as class president. Kent raised his family two blocks from the university and
was a regular fixture as a referee, coach, and fan at football, basketball, gymnastics, and many
other events for over 70 years.
Kent and Bessie received Honorary Doctorate degrees from Southern Utah University in 2012.
Kent was inducted into the SUU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Athletic Hall of Fame was
re-named for him in 2017.
Kent was preceded in death by his beloved wife Bessie, his son Kelly, his parents, and four
grandchildren. His siblings and their spouses - Mabel (Clarence) Cripps, Irissa (Darwin) Nelson,
Otto (Iva) Dover, Genevieve (Raymond) Melling, Bill (Zola) Dover, Clara (Orwin) Green, Grace
(Wallace) Osborne, Dick (Elmyra) Dover - and a number of their children also preceded him in
death. What a joyful family reunion there must have been when Kent passed through the veil.
Kent leaves on this earth three living children: Tom (Tamara) Dover, Pat (Rhonda) Dover, and
Marilyn Grainger, as well as a daughter-in-law, Nancy Smyth. He will also be missed by 15
grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren, and countless close friends.
The family would like to thank Ricky Grainger, Ricky Mendini, Dean O’Driscoll, and Maree
Prince for their exceptional care and friendship. We recognize and thank many more friends and
family members who supported and visited him, especially in recent years.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 30, 2021, at the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (9th Ward) meetinghouse located at 256 South 900 West in
Cedar City.
Viewings will be held on Friday, October 29 from 6:00-8:00 PM and on Saturday, October 30
from 9:30-10:30 AM, both at the 9th Ward meetinghouse at 256 South 900 West.
The funeral will be live streamed on Facebook from the Kent and Bessie Dover Memorial group
at https://www.facebook.com/groups/229671554935084/. All friends and family are welcome to
join and share their memories here.