Brent Leslie Watkins passed away peacefully on October 14, 2022, in Salt Lake City. Brent loved his kids and grandkids and had many lifelong friends.

Born in Tremonton, Utah, on February 12, 1946, he learned to work hard at an early age, delivering milk with his father, the neighborhood milkman. He remembered driving the milk truck to each house at a very young age while his father delivered the milk bottles. His desire for independence remained throughout his life, though he loved and honored his mother and father.

He attended Bear River High School, where he excelled in football. The Salt Lake Tribune recognized him in 1963 as a Class A All-State Football Team member.

Brent studied business at Utah State University, where he was a proud member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He made many lifelong friends there and met Jean Williams, who he eventually married in Bountiful, Utah on December 28, 1968. Though they later divorced, Brent loved Jean and regularly checked on her when she fell ill.

After graduating college, Brent served his country in Korea, achieving the rank of captain. After his military service, Brent's likable personality and work ethic aided him as he pursued a career in sales. Working for Readers Digest and later in sales consulting, Brent's career led his family from Denver to Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Connecticut. As a dad, he coached basketball teams and took his kids on trips to new destinations such as Cooperstown, Block Island, and Nantucket. While he didn't always know how to connect with them, he did his best and was proud of his kids and grandkids.

Brent spent his later years simply and pursued his passion for golf. He enjoyed Christmas traditions with his children and grandchildren and proudly cheered on his grandkids at soccer and baseball games. Brent looked forward to golfing trips with his best friends. His golf bag is still full of mementos from golf trips and his dresser had handwritten notes that contained details of each grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his sister Katherine, his daughter, Kellie, and his parents, Percy F. and Faye Waldron Watkins.

Brent received excellent care from the staff at the Salt Lake VA. Brent's family wishes to give a special thank you to the outstanding service from Bristol Hospice, especially Jen and Alan, who consistently went above and beyond and showed him and his children kindness despite difficult circumstances.

Brent is survived by his son, Brian Watkins (Sheridan) and their children, Katherine (18), Jack (15), James (6), George (4), and Thomas (1), as well as his daughter, Jana Watkins (David Melling) and her children, Dylan Dubois (13) and Addison Dubois (12). He is also survived by his sisters, Karen (Dan) Williams, and Kathleen Ashby (George Bendel).

Funeral services will be held at the Lehi Evans Farm ward building at 1801 West 700 South
Lehi, Utah 84043 at 10 am on Saturday, October 22.