Kent James McNatt

Kent McNatt was born in Deming, New Mexico on August 23, 1945 and died on Veterans Day, November 11, 2024, at the age of 79 in Visalia, California. Herbert and Annabelle McNatt moved their young family to Tulare before Kent started school, and he lived in Tulare and Visalia the rest of his life. He entered Tulare Western High School in 1959 as a freshman; thus, he was a member of the first four year class to graduate from the new high school in 1963. He also graduated from College of the Sequoias, and then Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo in 1968. He served honorably in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and returned to teach history at Tulare Union High School for 34 years including serving on the coaching staffs of Valley Champions in both baseball and basketball. He was honored as a great teacher by Tulare Western when in 2011 he was added to the school's Wall of Fame of distinguished alumni. Kent loved his community and eagerly served on the Tulare City Historical Museum Board and was active in the Central Valley Vietnam Veterans. He was avidly involved in organizing Veterans Day at the high schools in Tulare. He personally recruited veterans, including famous World War II Navajo Code Talkers, to meet with Tulare students in an annual event that continues to this day. He stayed in contact with the high schools even after he retired. He was dedicated to the many students whose lives he touched in his teaching career. As he put it, teaching took caring and nurturing of each student in order for learning to follow. Kent also enjoyed dancing and especially salsa. He formed friendships with the dancing class as well as many people in the community. He was easy to like and had a positive attitude which he expressed with his favorite word "OUTSTANDING!" Kent is survived by his sisters, Donna Green from Medford Oregon, Myra Lord (John) from Napa California and nieces and nephews living around the country. He was preceded in death by his brother Herbert Donald McNatt Jr. who was also a Vietnam veteran. A Celebration of Life will be held November 26, 2024 at 5:00pm at the Visalia Veterans Memorial Building, 609 W. Center Avenue in Visalia. Gifts of remembrance can be made to The Tulare City Historical Museum, 444 W. Tulare Ave. Tulare. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Kent James McNatt

August 23, 1945 - November 11, 2024