Linda Kay Kent, 69, of Jefferson City, died Saturday, September 7th, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis after a courageous battle with cancer. She is "brave and bold, loving, kind, honest and caring," granddaughter Haley wrote about her MeMe in a school assignment. "Even when she dies she won't leave an empty hole in my heart. When it begins to gap she will sew it together with her love." Linda was born on June 25, 1944 in Girard, Kansas to Grace Mellish and the late William Peak. She was a 1962 graduate of Girard High School. She was united in marriage with her sweetheart, Alvin Leroy Kent on January 11, 1964, in Greenbush, Kansas and together they journeyed through life, side by side, for 50 years. They had three beautiful children, Lori Ann, Steven Edwin and Traci Lyn and raised them in Norton, Kansas; Canton, Illinois; Chillicothe, Missouri and Macon, Missouri. Linda and Al retired in 2007 and in 2008 they moved to Jefferson City to live out the rest of their days doing what she loved the most; spending time with family and friends. Linda provided in-home childcare for many years, a beloved caregiver to all the children she kept. She was also a teacher's aide for a short time. And for 20 years of dedicated service she worked at Vision Care Associates in Macon as the optical manager, impacting the entire community with her exceptional skills and effervescent personality. She is survived by her devoted husband, Al Kent of Jefferson City, Missouri; her children, Lori Rupp and husband, Steve, of Macon, Missouri, Steven Kent and wife, Lisa, of Columbia, Missouri, and Traci Kent and partner, Jennifer Shay, of Portland, Oregon; her brother, Larry Peak and wife, Evelyn, of Girard, Kansas, her sister, Sue Loy of Springfield, Missouri; her grandchildren, Katie Davis and husband, Terry, Andrew Guilford, Jordan Rupp, Kendrick Rupp, Melissa Buehner, Jeremy Buehner and wife, Carly, Sydney Kent and Haley Kent; and her great-grandchildren, Alyse Lampkin, Tristen Davis and Logan Davis. Visitation will be held on September 21, 2013 from 3-6 p.m., a time to gather with the family and celebrate Linda's life, at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home, 3210 N. Ten Mile Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109. Her favorite flowers were roses and daisies and she asked for those in lieu of large flower arrangements. Memorials are suggested to Goldschmidt Cancer Center, 1432 Southwest Blvd., Jefferson City, MO 65109. Those wishing to email tributes or condolences to the family may do so at www.dulletrimble.com.