Kent Nolan Russell

Kent Nolan Russell was born in Ontario, Oregon, on April 11, 1950. He grew up in San Jose, California, and attended UC Berkley where he earned a Bachelor's of Science in Forestry. He was married to Colleen on March 31, 1973. Kent joined the Air Force and learned to fly in Selma, Alabama. After the birth of his daughter Jennifer in July 1974, he attended Humboldt State and earned an additional Bachelor's of Science in Fisheries. In 1979, he moved his young family to Petersburg, Alaska, to work as a Fish Biologist with the Tongass National Forest. In 1980, they moved to Wrangell where he continued his career as a Fish Biologist. In 1987, his family moved to Yakima, Washington, where he was a Fish Biologist for the Naches Ranger District. In 1994, Kent and Colleen moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon, where he became a District Ranger for the Chiloquin Ranger District and then the Klamath Falls Ranger District. He also worked on special fish projects with the Fish & Wildlife Service before retiring in 2008. They moved back to Yakima in 2010 to be close to their daughter and grandson. Kent was finally able to set up his "dream" fish room filled with a wide variety of fish and most recently adding poison dart frogs. His passion was killifish and he was an active member in the American Killifish Association. He also joined the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society and spent many hours researching his family history. He had built a telescope from old laser geodolites with his father and the whole family was planning on gathering Ontario this August to view a solar eclipse.
Kent was known for his sense of humor, his curiosity and open mindedness. He always enjoyed meeting and interacting with new people, maintaining a positive attitude. His family will remember his practical jokes and documenting all their family events and adventures. One of their fondest memories is when he recorded a family dinner at Christmas in slow motion, with him eating very slowly and his family consuming at their normal pace, for when the movie was played at normal speed, this made the family appear to be stuffing their faces in a hurry.
Surviving family includes his wife Colleen; daughter Jennifer Stevens and grandson Nathan. He is also survived by his parents Graydon and Janice Russell; his brother Keith Russell (Darlene), nephews Robert Russell and Chris Russell; grandnephews Cameron and Silas, and grandniece Abby.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 9, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. at Shaw & Sons Funeral Directors.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Yakima Humane Society in Kent's honor.