Kent Leon Rideout

Kent Leon Rideout, age 65, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, June 5, 2022. Kent died in a single-rider motorcycle accident while vacationing in the beautiful hills of Arkansas. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Kent was born on February 19, 1957, to Holbert and Stella (Haun) Rideout in Abilene, TX. He married his wife, Merri Lynn (Blay) Rideout, on July 8, 1978. His two children, Kara (Rideout) Collins and Craig Rideout, were born in 1981 and 1984, respectively. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Abilene Christian University in 1986. He began his career at ACU in the Business Office in 1995 as assistant controller for plant and endowment.  Prior to his work at ACU, he worked for Pittencrieff Communications; Davis, Kinard & Co.; and as an auditor at Grant Thornton in Midland.  He was employed as the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Abilene Christian University Investment Management Company (ACIMCO), a position he held until the time of his death.

Kent served as a member of the Board of Trustees at Abilene Christian Schools since 2001 and was a former elder at Southern Hills Church of Christ where he and his wife are members. He was involved in mission work abroad, including in Haiti, China and Thailand. He made many lifelong friends around the world and brought many souls to Christ. Kent enjoyed many hobbies including woodworking, motorcycle riding, traveling, and taking his family skiing at the lake.

Kent is survived by his wife Merri Lynn; his daughter Kara and her husband Christopher Collins; his son Craig and his wife JoDee (Wright) Rideout; his five grandchildren, Branson, Brooklyn, Adilyn, Audrey, and Calan; his mother, Stella Rideout; and his siblings, Larry and Gwen Rideout; Janna Owen; Teryl and Sharon Rideout; Deryl and Cathy Rideout; and Nyla and Steve Davis and many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.

He was preceded in death by his father, Holbert Rideout, and grandsons Cade and Caleb Rideout.

Visitation will be held at Piersall Funeral Home from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 12. A memorial celebration will be held at Southern Hills Church of Christ on Monday at 11 a.m. following a private burial.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Holbert and Stella Rideout Religious Education Endowed Scholarship that is set up at ACU.  Please contact the Gift Records office at 325-674-2612 or by mail at Gift Records ACU Box 29132 Abilene, TX 79699.  Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.