Kent Durden

1937 - 2007

Kent Durden, a former Ventura resident, died unexpectedly on March 28, 2007, of heart failure in Punta Gorda, Belize, while leading a mercy mission to construct a school for Mayan children. His family and friends will dearly miss his gift for storytelling, knowledge of nature, love of travel and enjoyment of life.

Kent was born Nov. 12, 1937. He graduated from Newbury Park Adventist Academy and La Sierra College in Riverside, Calif. He inherited his love of nature from his father, Ed Durden, who captured a golden eaglet for research and filming in the 1950s. Kent helped film and train the eagle in those early years. He had a close and constant friendship with his father, who lived in the Santa Barbara hills.

In 1962 Kent settled in Ventura with his wife and family and began his career as a wildlife cinematographer, writer and naturalist. His talent for writing and creativity let him to contribute story lines and film for several "Lassie" episodes. His work also appeared in Disney films, National Geographic specials and numerous film projects. For 17 years, he lectured for the National Audubon Society, showing his wildlife documentaries across the United States.

In 1972 Kent wrote a book about his father's 16-year relationship with the eagle Lady and their adventures. "Gifts of an Eagle" was published by Simon and Schuster and became a nonfiction best-seller. Two more books followed, "Flight to Freedom" and "A Fine and Peaceful Kingdom." Soon after, Kent began work on the movie "Gifts of an Eagle," which ran in theaters across the United States. In years since, he toured the country, showing the film for the Audubon Society and to church and school groups.

In 1978 Kent moved to Grass Valley, Calif., and became a successful building contractor. He was an active member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which he helped build and served as a deacon for the past 12 years.

Kent is survived by his wife of eight years, Ernestine; sister, Patsy Durden of Yucca Valley; daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Joe Fiano of Ventura; daughter Kristine Durden of Portland, Ore.; grandchildren, Ryan Sullivan of Chicago, Ill., and Ashley Sullivan of San Francisco; cousins, Chuck and Elaine Rogers and Peggy Rogers of Ventura; and several stepchildren and grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 14, in Grass Valley.

In lieu of flowers, donations may go to the new Kent Durden Memorial School in Belize, through the Grass Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church.