Kent Wayne Van Skiver

Kent W. Van Skiver, 56, of Biloxi, MS, passed from this life into eternity on the morning of Friday, October 10, 2008 at his home. Mr. Van Skiver was born December 31, 1951, in Belleville, Illinois, to Walter and Audrey Van Skiver. He moved to Gulfport in 1958 with the family when his father’s job with the Air Force Electronics School was transferred to Kessler A.F.B. He graduated from Gulfport East High School in 1970, where he was an outstanding athlete lettering in four sports. After earning a BA from Millsaps College in 1975 he worked for Offshore Drilling and Exploration Co. traveling the world. In 1986 he moved to Jackson entering the Insurance business where he met and married Sherry Lynn Robinson on Dec. 31, 1987. For the past five years he has been the COO of Advanced Legal Funding of MS, Inc. in Biloxi. Kent was an avid golfer. He was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife, Sherry, daughters, Kimberly Lynn and Kathryn Ann, and son, Ryan. His brother, Ward (Kay) Van Skiver of Jackson; sisters, Cheryl (Ken) Jenkins of Lincoln, NE, and Kathy (Steven) Brandon of Starkville, MS, join in his loss with Sherry’s brother, Gary (Sharon) Robinson of Forrest, MS, and sisters, Jennifer (Ronnie) Savoie of Mandeville, LA, Cathy (Darryl) Abels of Belzoni, MS, and Vivian Robinson of Forrest, MS. Kent touched the lives of everyone he ever met and leaves behind scores of nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles, who really loved and respected "The Uncle Kent." He was a thoughtful, caring man who was dedicated to his wife and family. He will be greatly missed by family and his many friends. Funeral services will be held Monday, October 13, 2008, at 1 p.m. at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Pass Road, in Biloxi where friends may visit one hour before service time. Interment will follow in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com.