Kent Murray Maxfield

We regretfully announce the death of Kent Maxfield, a beloved son and brother, a cherished husband, and dear friend. 

Kent was born on February 2, 1944, the third of four children to his  parents, Lester and Margret Maxfield.  He is preceded in death by his two brothers Perry (Raija) and Larry (Caroline) Maxfield.  He is survived by his sister Leslie (Phillip) Speed. 

Kent spent his formative years in Altonah, Utah, a farming and ranching community.  His family taught him respect for truth and integrity.  These surroundings cultivated a deep appreciation for beauty.  His search for truth and finding beauty helped define his life.  There was always a bit of Altonah in his heart. 

In high school he developed a talent for art and design.  He began training for a career in that field.  This training served him well.  He worked at UTA as the in-house graphic designer for 30 years.  He enjoyed the friendship of many associates over those years. 

At age 19, Kent was offered the chance to go on a mission for the Mormon church to Scotland.  Kent loved Scotland. The beauty, history and art resonated with him.  He loved the food, the people and even the wretched weather! 

When he returned from his mission, Kent was drafted into the army.  This was during the Vietnam war.  He was stationed in Korea.   Both of these adventures into the world sparked his lively intelligence and broadened his perspectives.  It fed a desire to see more and experience different cultures.  This compelled him on a different trajectory than could have been expected. 

After Korea, Kent enrolled in the art department at BYU.  There he met his lifelong partner, Michael Aitken.  They forged a lifelong relationship that was loyal, devoted and supportive.  They shared the same interest in art and culture.  Together they visited the world, everything from backpacking through Europe to visiting China, Morocco, Egypt and Turkey.  December 27, 2013, was a joyous day for them and their friends when they married. 

Kent was devoted to his family, always ready to help.  He was reliable.  He spent years helping his widowed father with their farm. 

Kent was a clear-eyed direct communicator that could convey truth with kindness and tact when friends and family needed to hear it.  He was brave and funny, and we understood the love underlying his remarks. 

Kent had sensitivity and intelligence.  His in-depth knowledge of everything from art to current events and his ability to communicate the concepts made him an insightful conversationalist.  You always wanted to know what he was thinking. 

While his presence will be missed the memory of his life will live on.