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Kent Edward Morrill

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Bellarmine Preparatory School

Kent Morrill Obituary

Kent Edward Morrill On April 15, 2011, Kent went to sleep in death awaiting the promised resurrection. He was born April 2, 1941 in Oakes, ND to Melvin & Lucille Morrill. The family moved to Tacoma, Wa in 1942. He graduated from Bellarmine Prep and St. Martin's College. He is survived by wife, Toni; sisters Joellen Schacht (Bill) and Luanne Yoders, brother Barry Morrill (Ruth); daughters Michelle Sours (Chris), Gayle Morrill, and Natalie Phillips; sons Jerry Phillips (Lia), Troy White (Julie), and Michael White (Sandi); 12 grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews. Kent preached the good news of God's Kingdom as one of Jehovah's Witnesses for 41 years and served as an elder in the Brookdale Congergation. A Memorial service will be held Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 5:00 pm at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 1201 E. 72nd St., Tacoma.

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Published by News Tribune (Tacoma) on Apr. 22, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Kent Morrill

15 Entries

Joe Granger

September 19, 2025

Condolences the family.
First saw Kent and the Wailers and RRRonerts and Gail Harris at the Spanish Castle in DesMoines, WA...will never forget how he put a kerchief on his head and sang the female part of Ike and Tina Turner´s " I Think It´s Gonna Work Out Fine" .
Later I knew Kent at St Martin´s College (now University) in 62-63 we were in the St Martin´s Male Chorus together, We travelled into Canada and Eastern Oregon as well as western WA giving performances. We even recorded an album in 63. Kent was a first tenor with a fabulous voice. He was also a good guy and a fabulous poker player...took a lot of my extra spending money on those long trips on the bus.

Tera rudell

August 3, 2025

I had the great pleasure of meeting Kent Morrills wife, toni on the Amtrak this week . It was such a a pleasure to talk with her about him and some memories of hers. Incredible wonderful and beautiful woman

Freddie

July 28, 2025

I was one of the Castle regulars. Loved the Wailers, Kent, was a favorite. The place went wild when he took the mic....a true performer! Freddie

Carl Schroeder

March 17, 2024

I was a St. Martin's high school student when Kent was at St. Martin's College. I think he was a senior when I was a freshman, school year 1959-60. He was there on a music scholarship, I believe. His band, the Wailers, was one of the coolest rock bands ever, and they were especially loved in the Pacific Northwest. I grew up in Tacoma, as I believe Kent did, and my parents once told me that my dad got his haircuts at Kent's dad's barber shop. As great as Kent was playing "Tall Cool One" and singing songs like Louie Louie, he was equally great at other kinds of music. One Mothers Day at St. Martin's the college glee club put on a performance for both the high school and college students and their mothers. Kent sang a solo of "Ave Maria" and he had a voice like an angel. I swear that if he and the Wailers had been more ambitious, especially when they performed on Dick Clark's American Bandstand when they were in high school, they could have been nationally and internationally famous. As it was, they were Number 1 in the Pacific Northwest. I remember one day in the St. Martin's Cafeteria at lunch time I was in the high school student line and I noticed Kent in the college student line. He never stopped moving. He was bopping to some melody and beat in his head and his feet and fingers were keeping time. Definitely the coolest guy ever to attend SMC. One year in the early 2000's my now-wife and I were at "Lakefair", an annual outldoor festival/carnival in Olympia. It was late, things were closing down, and we were starting to walk to our car. As we walked I heard some unusually good rock'n'roll music coming from a distant bandstand. Somehow it had like a magnetic attraction for me and we walked closer to listen. Lo and behold it was Kent and one or two former members of The Wailers plus other musicians. I had recognized their great sound after all those years. Kent asked for requests and I yelled out "Mashi"! Before starting to play he paused and said "Do you know what that means?" I yelled out "It Moves!", because I remembered from decades before, perhaps from the album cover, that in the Egyptian Language (I think) that's what it means. Kent said in a surprised tone of voice "He does know!" That's a highlight of my life - impressing Kent Morril with my knowledge of his music. :>) I want to thank him for his great music, and to say May he rest in peace. OH! I attended his memorial many years ago in Tacoma, and I still wear a number of the T-Shirts I bought that night. Every now and then I get a chance to tell someone about Kent and the Wailers. They're always impressed when I tell them that when the Beatles came to Seattle for the first time the one group they wanted to meet was The Wailers.

April 26, 2011

My favorite song of all time.."It's You Alone"...RIP Kent...

Henry..Puyallup

Charles Cantrell

April 24, 2011

I knew Kent when I worked for the Sonics and then the Wailers. He was a great and kind person and will be missed by many. C. Cantrell

Bob Geiger

April 23, 2011

I have fond memories of Kent, walking to the bus together to go home from Bellarmine. Great guy and classmate.

Patti Miranda

April 22, 2011

We do God's work when we share our gifts. Thank you Kent Morrill for sharing your gift with us for so long. May the beautiful memories you left us sustain your legacy. My sincere condolences to the family. God bless you all.

David S.

April 22, 2011

In the crazy, irresposible, and insane era of the 60's and 70's, here was this Man, Kent Morrill,sane, honorable, responsible, and spiritual. He was a conradiction of the times. Peaceful traveling, Kent.

Joanne Higgins Moore

April 22, 2011

How lucky we were to have Kent Morrill and the 'Fabulous Wailers' in our lives. We got to go to the amazing 'Wailer Dances', watch them on 'American Bandstand' and then renew our friendships as part of the Bellarmine/St. Leo's/Aquinas Class of 1959 50th Reunion. As committee members, we got to know the quiet, gentle man, Kent Morrill,and once again danced to 'The Fabulous Wailers' at our party, truly a night to remember. We send our thoughts and prayers to Toni and thank her for her love and caring for this very special man. He will be truly missed.

Doug and Marcia McFarlane

April 22, 2011

We are so sorry to hear of the passing of Kent. We have grown up with Kent and the Wailers and have had the privilege of seeing them many times over the past ten years, most recently in February at the Snoqualamie Casino. We both noted that although he had been sick and lost weight, his voice still could compete with the best of them! We were looking forward to seeing him in June in his "Tribute to Roy" concert. The few times that we spoke with Kent, he was so gracious and quiet spoken. We thank him for the years of enjoyment he has shared with us. Your music, Kent will always be a part of us. "Louie, Louie" will always be yours! And thank you to your family for sharing you with us!

Karen Mulder

April 22, 2011

I grew up listening to The Fabulous Wailers; I danced to "It's You Alone" at my wedding. I only knew him as a fine musician and a man who gave me his autograph. My heart goes out to Kent's family.

Richard Peters

April 22, 2011

A legend will be missed.

A Classmate.

Judy Hyers

April 22, 2011

Oh, the memories of the school dances at Bellarmine with the Fabulous Wailers. Thanks, Kent.

Michael Graham

April 22, 2011

I went to grade school with Kent all through the years from 1st through 8th grade. As I only lived less than two blocks away from him, I went to his house for Cub Scouts while his mom was Den Leader. He was a very kind and gentle man, and my deepest sympathies are with his family and friends. May he Rest in Peace.

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