Kent Alan Rayl, 73, of Andover, Kansas passed away on August 9, 2024 at his home from complications related to Lewy Body Dementia.
Kent was born November 4, 1950 in Anthony, KS the child of Charlie and Bertha “Bert” (Dinges) Rayl and grew up in Hutchinson, Kansas with his beloved siblings Steve Rayl, Cheryl (Rayl) Bixby, Rod Rayl and countless aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Kent graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1968, where he played multiple sports and was a standout track & field star. He then went on to earn his Physical Education degree from Kansas State University in 1973.
Kent married Leigh Ann (Holcomb) on March 10, 1973 at the First Congregational Church in Hutchinson, KS. Kent and Leigh celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2023 and were blessed to have two children Jaime (Rayl) Snider and Joshua Rayl who both made it well into adulthood despite their best efforts as teens. This allowed Kent to enjoy his role as “Papa” to his seven grandchildren who brought him endless hours of entertainment.
Kent worked as a salesman for many years at Hodisco, Fruit of the Loom, and for more than 30 years as a Key Account Executive at Wrangler Jeans until he retired. Kent loved traveling across his territory and worked with several accounts for decades creating lasting friendships with customers, sales clerks, and CEOs.
Kent’s spare time was generally spent on the golf course, attending OU football games, mowing his lawn like a baseball diamond, or calling his extended family and friends to get the most recent updates on their lives.
Kent was currently attending New Spring Church in Wichita, KS but previously attended University Christian Church in Norman, OK where he frequently played basketball and softball with the men’s group.
Kent never met a stranger. To him, they were just people that weren’t friends yet. He was prone to constant movement, whistling loudly to himself (or for his kids to come home), and telling extremely corny dad jokes at inappropriate times.
Remaining to cherish Kent’s memory are his wife of 51 years Leigh, his children Jaime (Travis) Snider & Josh (Kari) Rayl; grandchildren, Leya Smith, Skyler Smith, Blake Snider, Wyatt Snider, Lucy Snider, JJ Rayl, and Waylon Rayl, Brothers Steve Rayl and Rod Rayl, Sister Cheryl (Dana) Bixby, sister-in-law Debbi (Greg Hall), brother-in-law John (Jill) Weidman, several nieces and nephews and too many cousins and friends to list.
Preceding Kent in death are his parents, Charlie & Bert Rayl, in-laws Dean & Joan Holcomb, and his sister-in-law Suzi (Holcomb) Weidman.
Visitation, with the family present, will be held Friday, September 20, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson. Memorial services will be held September 21, 2024 at 10:30AM at First Congregational Church, 3410 N Plum St., Hutchinson. Private family inurnment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson. Friends may sign his book from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Elliott Mortuary.
A come and go celebration of life will also be held October 5, 2024 from 5-9PM at 25249 Johnson Rd. Purcell, OK 73080.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Good Shepherd Hospice, Wichita, Bay Island Impact, or The Brain Donor Project, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.
If you wish to send memorials directly to the organizations, donations in Kent’s memory may be directed to Bay Island Impact https://bayislandimpact.com/ (a charity working with people in poverty in Roatan, Honduras) or Good Shepherd Hospice https://www.goodshepherdhospice.com/donations.
Please also consider a financial or brain donation to the Brain Donor Project https://braindonorproject.org/ or at The Brain Donor Project Memorial Donations P.O. Box 111002 Naples, FL 34108-1929. Your donation will help scientists find a cure for Lewy Body Dementia and other brain disorders. You do not have to have a brain disorder to be a brain donor.