Submitted by his Family

Kent Furman Long
Firefighter II
Station 23
Charlotte‚ North Carolina
Date of Death: December 1‚ 2006
Age: 44

Kent joined the Charlotte Fire Department in 1989. He got the job done and treated others with respect. His fellow firefighters remember how they could always count on him‚ how he always had their back. He gave his all in everything he did. It was only in his passing that we learned of ALL he did.

Kent was a very compassionate‚ dependable and hardworking man. Totally devoted to his family‚ he was an amazing husband and father. He was very passionate about the people in his personal life. His wife and three children formed the passion of his heart. Sharing time with them and being the proud ‘quiet’ father was his favorite pastime. That special quiet way about him will always be missed and remembered along with his unforgettable smile. The following verse describes how Kent lived and the reason why he was looked upon with so much respect:

1 Thessalonians 4:11

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life‚ to mind your own business and to work with your hands‚ just as we told you‚ so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Help me‚ Lord‚ to finally comprehend what it means to consider it pure joy whenever I face trials of many kinds. Help me to know that the testing of my faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its works in me so that I may be mature and complete‚ lacking nothing (James 1:2-4). Lord‚ You are not asking me to rejoice that I have lost someone precious but You know that‚ in my loss I can rejoice in all I have to gain if I’m willing. Never must my suffering be in vain.

Kent would be humbled to be honored at this year’s memorial.

Wife: Gina
Children: Lance‚ Callie & Gage Kent

Submitted by his daughter

My dad loved being with nature‚ in the woods. The time he spent in the woods was the time he felt close to God‚ our Creator. When you went into the woods with my dad‚ you would learn about nature. Everyone that knew my dad would call him if they needed help with something. He’d stop doing what he was doing at home and help that friend or family member.

Dad was a boy and girl scout leader for many years. After he was hired with the fire department‚ he’d continue to help the boy scouts in teaching them how to tie knots and camping.

I’m VERY PROUD of my dad. He touched so many people’s hearts and probably didn’t know half of them. They came to me at dad’s Celebration of Life saying‚ ‘We’ve never met‚ but your dad talked so much about you I feel like I know you.’ Just to let you know‚ we fed over 500 people that day. All of the people’s hearts‚ he touched in some way‚ will always be a treasure in their hearts.

Dad would always take me rock climbing‚ camping‚ fishing and a little bit of hunting. He taught me how to be independent and fix things. Now‚ he and God are teaching me things through my heart. My dad was the BEST!

Accomplishments: He climbed Mt. Ranier in 1981; became Fire Fighter II in 1983; Engineer in 1987 and Captain in 1989.

He was a member of the following: RMEF‚ NWTF‚ NRA and Ducks Unlimited.