Donald Kent Mallett, 58, of rural Memphis, Missouri, died March 17, 2018, surrounded by his family at Blessing Hospital.

He was born May 31, 1959, at Kirksville, Missouri, to Donald Leonard and Virginia Anne (Redman) Mallett.

Kent grew up in Scotland County and attended Scotland County R-1 School, graduating with the class of 1978. He received an associate degree in automotive collision from Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa.

He married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis Ann Parrish, on June 14, 1985, in the Christian Church at Baring, Missouri, and to this union two children were born.

Kent was a crop and livestock farmer raising several head of cattle and hogs. He also was the owner of Mallett Continuous Fence manufacturing custom livestock supplies.

He enjoyed World War II history and embellished his interest by reading books and watching television productions. He also enjoyed watching Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives along with RFD TV.

He was a member of the Greensburg Baptist Church in Greensburg, Missouri.

Left to honor Kent's memory is his wife, Phyllis, of rural Memphis; his son, Christopher Kent Mallett with his fiancé, Jayme Geisendorfer, of Memphis; and his daughter, Leslie Ann Mallett with her boyfriend, Lance Horak, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Other survivors include his mother, Virginia Mallett, of Baring, Missouri; a sister, Martha Gudehus (Allen), of Edina, Missouri; three brothers:  Keith Mallett (Michelle), Terry Mallett, Neal Mallett (Pam), all of Baring; two sisters-in-law, Jennifer Dickerson (Eric), Brenda Parrish (Jerry); two brothers-in-law: Ronnie Parrish (Kristy), Larry Parrish; and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, numerous cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father; his grandparents; his father and mother-in-law; and a brother-in-law, Stevie Parrish.