Dr. Kent Kyger of Nashville, Tennessee passed away peacefully on July 4, 2024.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia Miller Kyger. He was a loving father to his four girls, Patricia Hunt (Scott), Beth Sparta (Mike), Lucy Langreck, and Helen Smith (Winthrop, preceding in passing); the most extraordinary grandfather to Miller (Bryson), Brennan (Elizabeth), Robinson (Sarah), Bevan (Graham), Reed, Michael (Emma), and Sullivan; and an absolutely delighted great-grandfather to Carson, Preston, Patrick, and Poppy.
Kent was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Fred and Lucille Kyger.
He graduated from his beloved Oklahoma University with a B.S. in Pharmacy, after which he attended Vanderbilt University Medical School. While in Nashville, Kent met and married the love of his life, Patricia Miller Kyger. During their 66 years of marriage, they celebrated the blessings of a growing family, fierce tennis matches, dancing, travel, and a shared passion for serving their community.
Immediately after medical school, Kent entered the United States Navy and served as a flight surgeon until his honorable discharge at the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Kent and his young family then returned to Nashville where he completed both a residency in Psychiatry and a fellowship in Child Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University Hospital. Among countless awards and achievements, Kent was particularly honored to serve as President of the Tennessee Psychiatric Association as well as to be the first psychiatrist to serve as President of the Nashville Academy of Medicine. He devotedly treated thousands of patients throughout his career at the Middle Tennessee Psychiatric Clinic before reluctantly retiring “early” at the age of 90.
Kent was a voracious student of life always seeking to learn a new language, play a new instrument, or expand upon his truly astounding knowledge of world history. He experienced the world through a lens of infectious curiosity, razor sharp wit, and profound compassion— all of which will be deeply missed by those fortunate enough to know him.
The family would like to thank the compassionate staff at Woodcrest and Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital. We are forever grateful for your comfort and care. We also thank the Eucharistic Ministers of St. Henry’s Catholic Church for traveling each week to faithfully administer the sacrament to Dr. Kyger.
Services will be at St. Henry’s Catholic Church on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, with a visitation at 10 AM followed by a funeral mass at 11 AM. Graveside services immediately after at Calvary Cemetery. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/nashville-tn
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Charities Diocese of Nashville and Ascension Saint Thomas Foundation.
For more obituaries visit https://davidsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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