Kenton John Backey

August 2, 1952 - November 20, 2020

Kenton J. Backey, age 68, died unexpectedly on Friday, Nov. 20, 2020, at Cherry Valley
Healthcare in Banning, CA. He was born August 2, 1952 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and adopted
by Orville and Enid (Lutz) Backey. He grew up in Bellevue, WA, where he was a competitive
hockey player, downhill skier and swimmer. He spent his later teenage years in McFarland, WI.
He graduated from Oregon High School in 1971 and attended Madison Area Technical College
for Accounting. Kent married Elaine Backey in 1975 and had a daughter, Joan Backey. He
worked for Backey and Associates Engineering for several years before retiring due to a
disability. Kent loved spending time with his family, being a coach, going to the cabin, fishing
and driving his boat. In his later years, he loved to travel. His favorite destinations were Seattle,
WA, and Orange County, CA. He moved in with his daughter and son-in-law, Joan and Juan
Murillo, after his wife passed in 2013. While in CA, he loved visiting the various beaches, getting
fish tacos at Sharkeez, and visiting the wild donkeys in the Inland Empire. His favorite person to
spend time with was his grandson, John. His family and caregivers, Sharree Butler, Cathy
Stancher and Giselle Sanchez, Nurse Regina Johnson, and his cats and dogs were a close second
along with his cousins and nieces and nephews.
Kent is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Joan and Juan Murillo; his grandson, John
Murillo; his sister and husband, Sue and Mike Bast; and his nephew, Kane Backey.
Kent is preceded in death by his wife, Elaine Backey (2013); his brother, Grant Backey (2018);
and his parents, Enid and Orville Backey; and stepfather, John Backey. The family would like to
thank the Nurses and staff at Cherry Valley Healthcare for their compassionate care for our
father. There will be a celebration of life gathering at a later date.