Kent Hsien-Chen Chou
Passed: September 09, 2018
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Kent Hsien-Chen Chou
Passed: September 09, 2018
Obituary
Kent Hsien-Chen Chou passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on September 9, 2018.
Kent was born on July 25, 1970, to Valerie Chen and I-Hsin Chou. He grew up in New Jersey, then studied English at BYU and medicine at Yale University. Following residency and a hand fellowship through the University of Pittsburgh, Kent joined Ortho Arizona (formerly Canyon Orthopedic Surgeons) in 2004, and never unexpectedly missed a day of working at his dream job until he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in April of this year.
Kent’s great love of medicine and surgery was dwarfed by his love for his family. Kent was lucky to find Anne Michelle (“Shelly”) early in life, and had the good fortune to marry someone who complimented him, supported him, and softened him. Kent and Shelly’s strong marriage produced four exceptional children–Jordan, Emily, Ryan, and Natalie–all of whose achievements in academics, music, and athletics have made their parents proud.
To his survivors–Shelly, Jordan, Emily, Ryan, Natalie, his two parents, and three siblings Christina, Franklin, and Catherine and their families–Kent leaves behind a legacy of steadfast church service, exceptional hard work, an irrational dedication to the Phoenix Suns, and a consistent voice of sound advice and reason, which will continue to guide the lives of those who were blessed to know him in his too-short time on earth.
Services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 425 S Estrella Pkwy, Goodyear, AZ 85338.
Viewings will be held on Friday, September 14, from 6-8pm and Saturday, September 15, from 11-12:45.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 15, at 1 pm.
Flowers may be sent to Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 S Litchfield Rd, Goodyear, AZ 85338.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to lung cancer research.
20 responses to Kent Hsien-Chen Chou
April and BongKea says:
September 12, 2018
i had the honor of working with Dr Chou from 9/2008 to 10/2015 and loved working for and with him. i often was his left hand when he was using his right hand and vice versa. i can honestly say that i have more funny and good memories than i have bad! just thinking of them now make me smile and laugh.
he was an exceptional hand surgeon, and even more so an exceptional friend, father, husband, son/brother, and worthy church member.
because of our friendship, i am thankful that he made it important to come to me in my time of need (after i no longer worked with him) and administered to my mother her final blessing before she passed in 2016.
my family and his family often would go to dinner, a couple of college volleyball games, as well as a couple of musicals and such.
we will forever be grateful for knowing this family, and will do whatever may be needed to help them heal as they go through this trying and emotional time.
WE LOVE YOU KC and are here for your family!
Rest in peace my friend… until we meet …
(and yes, i know that he would be picking apart my verbiage and punctuation – that was another of his pet peeves that makes me smile as i type this up right now!)
Renee Hughes says:
September 13, 2018
Shelly, Jordan, Emily, Ryan and Natalie, please know that the Hughes family loves you. We are all praying for you. Kent was such a huge part of our family and we love him very much, he will be greatly missed by so many. We have so many stories of how he touched our lives. Love you guys much and again, we are always here for you.
Love, Bill, Renee, TJ (BigOaf – Kent’s nickname for TJ) and Travis
Melanie Hazen says:
September 13, 2018
RIP Dr. Chou. You are already missed by so many.
Mark Bishop says:
September 13, 2018
Elder Chou!! I am so saddened by this news. I have the fondest of memories of serving with him in ChangHwa. A spiritual giant as well as a comedian and friend. My memories often return to our experiences in Taiwan. May Peace find you at this time! I’m so grateful for the gospel and the comfort it gives to us. Until we meet again! 保重!
Brian Ebright says:
September 13, 2018
Words cannot describe the sense of loss I have at this time for you and your family. Word of Kent’s (President Chou’s) passing has brought back a flood of memories and feelings. I knew there was something special about Kent from the first day I met him in the MTC back in August 1989. He was a great man who I admired and a great example to me and everyone who came in contact with him. My heart goes out to you and your family. Please accept my deepest condolences, Kent will sorely be missed.