Kent McWilliam

Kent Sutton McWilliam was born in Jefferson, Iowa on December 15, 1936 and died December 15, 2018 on the farm in Paton, Iowa at the age of 82. 

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 5, 2019 at First United Methodist Church, in Jefferson with words of comfort provided by Rev. Julia E.F. Poulson. His casket bearers were Mark Rittgers, Rick Rittgers, LeRoy Calvert, Mike Bravard, Paul Mears and Boe Lovain. A trumpet solo of  “Amazing Grace” was performed by Mr. Wayne Lautner. Graveside service were held at the Junction Township Cemetery in Grand Junction, Iowa, where the rider less Magic was a great hit. A luncheon was held at the church following the service at graveside burial. Visitation was held at Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson on Friday, January 4 starting at 1 p.m. Family was present at the visitation that evening from 5 to 7 p.m.

Kent lived his life on his family farm in Paton. He graduated high school from Paton Consolidated in 1955 and left the farm briefly to attend college at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. After one year he transferred to Arizona State University in Phoenix, where he obtained a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Agronomy with a minor in chemistry.  Kent returned to the farm in Paton and continued to farm with his father, Wiltse McWilliam, for the next 20 years and then took over all farm operations for the rest of his life. In 1958 Kent married Suzanne Clopton from Jefferson and in 1959 they welcomed a baby girl, Ann Marie, and in 1964 they adopted a son, Todd Kent. Kent and Sue were married for 20 years and divorced in 1978. Kent shared the majority of his life with life mate Mary Tilley of Boxholm, Iowa until her passing in 2016.  

Kent fell in love with horses at an early age when his dad bought his first horse which gained him the freedom to run his horse to town to visit his beloved grandparents. After college Kent was very active in play day sports participating in barrels, poles and track racing with his trophy-winning horse Tonka. Eventually Kent began breeding, raising, showing and selling Arabian horses. During this time he also began horse and buggy rides with his beautiful white Arabian horse, McCoy. Kent and McCoy gave people hundreds of summer buckboard rides and winter rides in an enclosed Amish buggy. He also made many fond memories with people at parades and weddings. On his tombstone Kent is the “Paton Cowboy.” 

Perhaps Kent’s greatest claim to fame however might be his charismatic personality, being a hilarious storyteller and an overall extremely funny person. He always delivered good times and laughs and those will be greatly missed. 

Kent is preceded in death by his father, Wiltse McWilliam; mother, Blanche McWilliam Prasad; son, Todd McWilliam; brother, Roy McWilliam and life mate, Mary Tilley.  He leaves behind his daughter, Ann Marie (Scott) McWilliam Yoder; a grandson, Hayden Barr; his brothers, Evans (Linda) McWilliam and Winston (Joan) McWilliam; sister, Diane (Les) Williams; and many nieces and nephews. 

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Jefferson Bee & Herald
Address: 200 N. Wilson St.
Jefferson, IA 50129

Phone:(515) 386-4161