Kent Hanby

In Loving Memory of

Charles Kent Hanby 

November 22, 1941 – September 13, 2025

Charles Kent Hanby, known to most simply as Kent, was born on November 22, 1941, in Harper, Kansas. He was the son of Orsini Lester Hanby and May Tolle Hanby.

From an early age, Kent drew strength and unwavering support from his mother, who was his rock throughout life. From his father, he learned the value of hard work and integrity, principles that guided him through every chapter of his life.

Kent had a strong sense of religious duty and reverence. His faith in God was the foundation of his life which was quiet but unwavering. He drew strength from the teachings of Jesus Christ and turned to Scripture as a source of wisdom, comfort, and guidance. It was this faith that shaped his values, informed his decisions, and gave him peace through life’s joys and trials. Whether in moments of quiet reflection or through steadfast prayer, Kent’s relationship with God was deeply personal and enduring.

Kent earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma. He went on to receive a master’s degree in chemistry and mathematics from Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas.

His professional career began at Conoco Oil in Ponca City, where he worked as a chemist. Over the next 28 years, Kent held one other role within the company, transitioning into marketing. He retired from Conoco in 1998 and moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Not ready to fully slow down, he worked a few more years at Facet, International before officially retiring.

From childhood into his adult years, Kent never abandoned his adolescence. He showed this through his unwavering passion for Lionel model trains. His love for model railroading began when he received his first train set from his parents as a young boy, a gift that sparked a lifelong hobby and a vast collection.

As Kent pursued his higher education, he developed a fondness for spy fiction, especially the iconic James Bond series. In the mid 1960’s, he was captivated by the character’s confident masculinity and high-stakes adventures, which offered a glamorous escape to far-off places Kent admired and knew he would never be able to see. He especially loved the novels by Ian Fleming, and Goldfinger remained his favorite Bond film, with Sean Connery standing as his definitive 007.

Another passion and happy place for Kent was the shooting range. He pursued his love of trap shooting, as well as pheasant and deer hunting. Over time, he built lasting friendships with fellow outdoor and hunting enthusiasts. These were bonds formed through shared experiences and a mutual appreciation for the sport.

In 1965, Kent married the love of his life, Betty, whom he met while attending Emporia State. Their marriage was built on deep respect, mutual admiration, and a steady commitment to each other's happiness. Together, they recently celebrated 60 years of marriage on April 17, 2025. This is a testament to their enduring bond and shared love of life.

Kent and Betty were blessed with two sons: Darrin (born 1968) and Mark (born 1973). As a father, Kent was quietly devoted, illustrating his love not through grand gestures but through meaningful moments, shared stories, and a steady presence. Though not a man of many words, his actions spoke volumes. His sons always knew how proud he was of them. At times, a word never even needed to be said.

When Kent spoke, he did so with intention. His words carried weight, grace, and quiet strength. Kent never placed anything above his family, making time for the people he loved and always being there with dignity and quiet resolve.

His legacy lives on not only in Betty, Darrin, and Mark, but also in his beloved daughter-in -laws: Crystal Mae Hanby and Cynthia Marie Hanby, and adored grandchildren: Connery May Hanby, Harrison Robert Hanby, and Wilton Champ Hanby. To the grandkids, he was "Papa" and "Gramps.” He will always have a presence with them through the stories we share, the Christian values he embodied, and his enduring love.

Through us, they will always understand what it means to be loved by a man as strong, kind, and true as you - dad, husband grandfather or simply as Kent.

All now that remains is goodbye or should we say, “see you later.” None of us want to accept it but must. We will try and approach this new world with the same resolve and confidence you approached every day. This pain we feel from our loss is immeasurable. At times, we are a wreck without you here. Every time we breath it reminds us of you. When each of us are spiraling in our own personal sorrow, we will remember the words you said, we will remember the life you led. We will remember you.

We will miss you dearly. Mom will miss your steadfast love, Christlike character, companionship, protection, care, warmth, conversation and the overall vision of life you shared. Darrin and I will miss your encouragement, wisdom, guidance, sacrifice, faith, values, conversation, humor and joy.

Above all , we will all miss your towering presence, the way you laughed, the way your wisdom softened as we all hung onto every word. We will miss the way your love never asked to be earned. You were our dad, husband, friend, hero and constant. And though the world will go on, a part of ours will stand still, reading, laughing and sitting with you, as you ever-so-gently last held our hands.

The Compass of Scripture: My Dad’s Lifelong Journey with Jesus

The entire bible, especially The Gospel, was the compass that guided my dad’s lifelong

journey with Jesus Christ. Its message of grace, identity, and transformation became the

foundation on which he built his faith. As he read the Gospels and later the letters of Paul,

he encountered a God who was not distant or demanding, but present, personal, and

overflowing with love. These Scriptures did more than inspire him—they reshaped the way

he understood God, himself, and what it meant to live as a follower of Jesus.

The teachings of Jesus also guided how my dad approached relationships. Verses that

spoke of forgiveness, sacrificial love, and the power of the Holy Spirit reminded him that the

Christian life is lived from the inside out. He came to see the Spirit not as a distant helper

but as the source of strength, guidance, and comfort in everyday life. This awareness drew

him into a deeper walk with God—one marked by authenticity, surrender, and an ongoing

conversation with the Lord.

These New Testament Scriptures were not merely teachings to my dad; they became the

voice that steady-handed him through joy and sorrow, clarity and confusion. They shaped

his view of God as endlessly faithful and shaped his life as a testimony to grace.

The Most Impactful and Meaningful Scriptures for My Dad – Kent Hanby

John 20:30-31 - The purpose of John’s Gospel, according to my dad.

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not

recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,

the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was

with God in the beginning.

Psalm 23 – A psalm of David

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He

leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness

for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear

no evil, for You are with me; your rod and your staX, they comfort me. You prepare a table

before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house

of the Lord, forever.

John 7:37-39

On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is

thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture had said,

streams of living water will flow from within him. ” By this He meant the Spirit, whom those

who believed in him were later to receive.

Psalm 91:11

For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

John 9:3-5

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned. This happened so that the work of God might be

displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent me. Night is

coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Psalm 118:1

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.

John 11:25-26

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even

though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Isaiah 40:29-31

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired

and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their

strength . They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will

walk and not be faint.

John 13:12-17

When He had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place.

“Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’ and rightly

so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also

should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should doas I have

done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger

greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if

you do them.”

Isaiah 43:19

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in

the desert and streams in the wasteland.

Romans 8:6-11

The mind if a sinful man is death, but them mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;

the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those

controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

John 16:12-15

“I have much more to say to you., more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of

truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak

only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by

taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine.

That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.”

Acts 2:23-25 – A Scripture from Luke

This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with

the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him

from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to

keep its hold on Him.

Romans 5:12-14

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and in this

way death came to all men, because all sinned for before the law was given, sin was in the

world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned

from the time of Adam to the time of Mose, even over those who did not sin by breaking a

command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.

John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have

trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Acts 5:41-42

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of

suXering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to

house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Romans 1:17

For in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith

from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

John 17:9

“I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those who have given me, for they

Romans 8:26-27

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to

pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And

he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for

the saints in accordance with God’s will.

The Impact of Malcolm Smith on My Dad – Kent Hanby

Malcolm Smith is a Christian evangelist and teacher best known for Power of the Blood

Covenant, a work that has shaped countless believers’ understanding of salvation, identity,

and the astonishing depth of God’s commitment to humanity. Through Smith’s teachings,

my dad came to see that Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection fully accomplished

everything necessary for our salvation, our identity, and our relationship with God. The

Christian life, as Malcolm emphasized, begins not with our effort but with the finished work

of Jesus.

His teachings profoundly affected my dad. They empowered him to draw on the Spirit

rather than on his own strength, healing the discouragement that comes from trying to earn

God’s approval. It opened his heart to a vibrant, living relationship with a God who is not

distant, demanding, or conditional but intimately present and deeply loving.

Malcolm Smith’s emphasis on grace over striving, the personal love of God, and the Spirit’s

guidance from within resonated deeply with my dad’s longing for an authentic, committed

walk with Christ. Through Malcolm’s ministry, my dad came to understand God not as a

stern overseer, but as gentle, faithful, and passionately committed to a real relationship

with us through Jesus Christ.

Below are some quotes from Malcolm Smith that especially reflect this message:

“If we do not see that God is the Gift, we are inevitably left with a life that revolves around

reward for good behavior and punishment for every infraction of the rules—a world in which

everything hinges on what we do and promise to do.”

From Reward and Punishment

“God is love! He does not have love, as something added to Him… He is love. It is the way

He is in His essential nature… To have water means my possession of it is subject to

change… but to be water means I am never subject to change because it is what I am! God

is the definition of love; love is the way He is. Agape.”

From Power of the Blood Covenant: Uncover the Secret Strength of God’s Eternal Oath

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A Portrait in Words: Describing Charles Kent Hanby

The Blueprint of His Character

Steadfast

Supportive

Honest

Humble

Loyal

Present

Devoted

Patient

Understanding

Compassionate

Protective

Encouraging

Trustworthy

Consistent

Wise

Dependable

Selfless

Resilient

Loving

Forgiving

Christ-filled

Faithful

Grace-giving

Prayerful

God-fearing

How He Loved, How He Led

Always there, no matter what

His actions are always purposeful

A steady presence in every season of life

Quietly proud

Unwavering in his belief in his sons

Honest with the people he loved, even when honesty was hard

A father who made time, even when time was scarce

A listener without judgment, a guide rather than a critic

A dad who picked his battles wisely

A husband who deeply loved his wife

A father who taught through example

A dad who let his sons see his humanity

A father whose love never wavered

A man whose understanding opened the door to deeper trust

A father shaped by Christ-centered character

Above all, A God-fearing man who led with grace

The Man Behind the Memories

The Quiet Hero

The Honest Anchor

The Gentle Guide

The Friend Who Set the Example

The Man We Could Always Call

The Safe Haven

The Heart Behind Our Growth

The Dad Who Became A Friend

A Father After God’s Heart

A Christ-Centered Example of Love

The Man Who Never Wanted the Spotlight