| Graduation Year | Class of 1965 |
| Date of Passing | Aug 25, 2019 |
| About | Kent E. Lilly, age 72 of Kearney, passed away on Sunday, August 25, 2019 at CHI Good Samaritan Hopsital in Kearney. Nancy Tuma & Jerry Bady officiated and the burial is at Kearney Cementary with military honors by the Kearney American Legion Post # 52, V.F.W. Post #759 and the United States Air Force funeral Honors Team. Kent was born on December 9, 1946 in Hastings, NE to Lester I and Mary E (Baker) Lilly. He attended Grand Island High School and graduated in 1965. He than attended the Grand Island Business School and graduated in 1966 with a degree in accounting. Kent enlisted with the United States Air Force in 1967 and served 4 years while stationed in North Carolina as an accounting specialist. Upon his discharge, he attended Kearney State College and earned a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. He married JoAnn Williams on April 23, 1967 in Orchard, NE. Kent served the State of Nebraska as a State Probation Officer in Kearney. He was appointed as Chief Probation Officer in 1979 serving 9 Nebraska Counties in what was then referred as Probation District # 17. Following a restructure in the probation system, he served as Chief Deputy Probation Officer in District # 9 serving Buffalo and Hall counties. He ended his decorated career in 2012 after 40 years of dedicated service. During his career, he served on many committees both as an advisor and chair, including Region lll Alcohol Advisory Services Board, Statewide policy procedure committee and many others. He was instrumental in helping write state-wide policies over the years. He also aided in establishing the Kearney Probation Reporting Center which now offers a wide variety of services to offenders. In 2006, he was awarded the Nebraska Probation System Supervisor of the Year award. Kent also served as a CASA volunteer and was awarded Casa volunteer of the year in 2019. Kent was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon and Elder. He also served as a Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop # 136. Surviving Kent, are his wife, JoAnn Lilly of Kearney, son Jerod (Samantha) Lilly of Lincoln, NE and daughter, Heather (Dan )Morrow of Kearney; grandchildren, Garret Marshal and his significant other Kayla Lukens, Drew Morro and Jacob Morrow; great granddaughter, Ava Marshall; many other nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends. Kent was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Wanda Yost and her husband, Jim; brother Ron Lilly and his wife Marlene; niece KoAnn Lawrence. |
