Roger Kent Conwell, Ph.D.

Roger Kent Conwell, PhD, 76, of Port Neches, Texas passed away February 14, 2013 at the Medical Center of Southeast Texas in Port Arthur, Texas. He was born on March 29, 1936 in Wheeler, Texas to the late Buford and Gladys Holly Conwell. He served his country proudly in the U. S. Air Force. Kent authored over 40 westerns, 6 mysteries, and wrote a weekly article for the Port Arthur News. Kent retired after 33 years of teaching at Port Neches I.S.D. Kent grew up in the wideopen Texas Panhandle in the town of Wheeler, population 848. His love for the West came naturally, for his grandfather had run away from his Tennessee home when he was 14, bullwhacking from his way to the Panhandle where he met his future wife who had traveled from Illinois to Texas.After moving to Fort Worth, Kent was more at home at the stockyards than school. Somehow, he managed to earn a B.S. and began teaching. Later he moved to Port Neches, where he acquired a M.Ed. and Ph.D. A successful educator, his love for writing about the West, a period in history unique to America, has never waned. He has won awards for short stories, screenplays, mysteries, and westerns.He enjoyed fishing at Pleasure Island and swimming with his grandkids. His grandkids were the joy of his life, and he loved participating in their activities. He spent many years as a teacher, and after his retirement, he would often receive calls and visits from exstudents who would thank him for being such a positive influence in their lives.Funeral services will be held at Proctor Baptist Church in Port Arthur on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 10:00 a.m., Rev. Rick Erwin officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches.A gathering of family and friends will be held at Melancons Funeral Home in Nederland on Monday, February 18, 2013 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.Kent is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Priscilla Gail Conwell. He is survived by his wife, Gayle Venable Conwell of Port Neches daughters, Susan Wood and husband, Mike of Port Neches, Amy Johnstone and husband, Jason of Port Neches, and Shea Schaefer of Mansfield sons, Todd Conwell and wife, Bonnie of Atmore, Alabama and Chad Conwell and wife, Lori of Fort Worth grandchildren, Keegan Johnstone, Kenli Johnstone, Mikey Wood, Noah Wood, Ryan Schaefer, Rhet Schaefer, Chad Conwell, Jr., Crystal Conwell, and Christie Conwell and brother, Sammy Conwell of Fort Worth.We will miss you Paw.