Obituary of Kent Newell Hamilton

Kent died in a drowning accident at his home in Milton, Washington on March 19, 2019. He was born in Wenatchee, Washington, to Paul and Jean Hamilton on April 25, 1942. At the age of 15, Kent was near-fatally injured in a car accident, resulting in a six-week coma, and the beginning of brain injury recovery. He graduated from Central Washington University in Business and Economics, and briefly worked at Boeing. In Olympia, he formed Hamilton Enterprises and created REAL-A-Scope, a precursor to Multiple Listing for Realtors. He worked in state law and justice programs, was a Thurston County Planner, and was briefly Thurston County Parks Director. Following his marriage to Harriet “Heather” Weeda Dale, he moved to Milton.

Kent was a realtor and an appraiser, and served as Milton City Councilman. In 1990, 42 years after his brain injury, Kent received treatment at Good Samaritan Hospital’s Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center. He highly valued it and it was life changing for him.

He led a brain injury support group for 15 years with his wife’s support, and in connection with Good Samaritan Hospital. With his wife’s support, he raised money for bicycle helmets for children and adults; arranged events to fit and distribute them at community events, schools, and the Puyallup Fair with the cooperation of the Brain Injury Association of Washington (now called Brain Injury Alliance) and many businesses. He helped people cope and live with brain injuries, and hoped to protect people from getting brain injuries, which we know he did.

His other two greatest joys were sailing, and his yard, which had a fish pond and the park he built. He and his wife spent happy times sailing in the Puget Sound, both the Canadian and Washington San Juan Islands, the Hood Canal, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and some  of the Strait of Georgia, Victoria, and parts of Vancouver Island.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and stepson, Richard Dale; and is survived by his wife of 43 years, Heather Hamilton; step daughter, Katherine Dale of Olympia; sister, Karen Packer of Rancho Cucamonga, California; brother, Kris Hamilton; and numerous nieces and nephews who adored him.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, April 7, 2019, 2:30 p.m. at Mountain View Lutheran Church, 3505 122nd Ave. E, Edgewood, WA 98372.

Memorial donations in his honor may be made to Mountain View Lutheran Church Mission Endowment Fund, or in his name to the Brain Injury Alliance of Washington in Seattle.