Kent Finley, age 69, of Coleman, passed from this life on Sunday, January 24, 2021 at the Coleman County Medical Center.
A funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 29, 2021 at the First Baptist Church, 200 East College Avenue, in Coleman with Dr. Chas Shira officiating. The family will greet friends after the service at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center. Services are entrusted to Stevens Funeral Home, 400 W. Pecan Street, in Coleman. Face coverings are required to attend the funeral service.
He was born Bruce Kent Finley, Jr. on February 8, 1951 in Houston to Bruce Kent Finley, Sr. and Charlotte Fisher Finley. Kent moved to Abilene at the age of 11 and graduated from Cooper High School in 1969. He then attended Texas A&M University on a football scholarship earning his bachelor’s degree in 1973 and his master’s degree in 1974. Kent married Carla Wright on June 12, 1971 in Abilene. After graduating Texas A&M University, Kent was a football and baseball coach in North Richland Hills and at Abilene Cooper. In 1983 Kent and Carla moved to Midland where he worked as a Crude Oil Purchaser for Plains All American based out of Houston. Kent was known as a family man and wonderful friend. He would always take part in helping coach his children’s sporting events and loved attending all his grandchildren’s activities. He never met a stranger and loved to converse with anyone. Kent loved fishing, traveling, golfing, farming, ranching, and was always a faithful Texas A&M Alumni. In 1999, Kent relocated to Coleman where he was a member and deacon at First Baptist Church. He was also a member of the Coleman Rodeo Association, served on the board for the Coleman County Youth Sports Complex, the Bill Franklin Youth Activity Center, 4B Economic Development for Coleman, and was a member of the Abilene Country Club. Kent cared deeply for his family and loved everyone unconditionally. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Kent is preceded in death by his father, Bruce Kent Finley, Sr., and by his mother and father-in-law, Sonny and Marjorie Wright.
He is survived by his wife, Carla Finley of Coleman; his daughter, Kelley Vieth and husband Tory of Fort Worth; his son, Dr. Chance Finley and wife Kristi of Abilene; his grandchildren, Payton Finley, Lance Finley, Jack Vieth, Brett Vieth, and Luke Finley; his mother, Charlotte Finley of St. Hedwig; his sister, Connie Finley of Fort Worth; and his brother, Roy “Scooter” Finley of St. Hedwig.
Memorials are suggested in memory of Kent to the Coleman County Youth Sports Complex, P.O. Box 587, Coleman, Texas 76834 or to the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 983, Coleman, Texas 76834.
Pallbearers will be Denny Aldridge, Larry Aldridge, David Aldridge, Lanny Aldridge, Spud Aldridge, Eddy Allyn, and Mike Copeland. Honorary pallbearers will be the Coleman Rodeo Association, Gary Bolen, Fausto Maldinado, and Pedro Flores.
Remembrances, condolences, and messages of comfort can be expressed to the family at www.livingmemorials.com. Stevens Funeral Home is honored to serve the Finley family.
Funerals are currently a public event being held during the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. When you attend a public event, you are acknowledging risk of exposure.