Kent Morthland

Kent Douglas Morthland, 76, of Boise Idaho passed away peacefully at home on May 12, 2021, after a long-fought battle with colon cancer. He was born on December 12, 1944 in Topeka Kansas, to Kenneth and Kathlyn (Young) Morthland. Kent spent his childhood in Yakima, WA, taking family trips to the cabin, playing football and baseball in school, and spending much time with his large extended family.

Kent was sworn into the United States Army on March 26, 1966 in Spokane WA. He began his military career at Fort Carson, CO and then went on to serve his country proudly in Vietnam where he earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with a Bronze Service Star. Kent was honorably discharged on March 28, 1972 but remained a loyal veteran, patriotic to his core, for all his days.

Upon his discharge, Kent settled in Boise, taking a sales job with Archway Cookies. This led to his lifelong career as “Kent the Cookie Man” in the Treasure Valley. He loved visiting all the neighborhood markets and grocery stores on his sales route, and was witness to the turbulent growing pains in the grocery industry as Boise became a bigger city. He was known for driving his huge cookie truck around the valley, always in a shirt and tie, and sometimes with some free samples in the back.

During his time as “The Cookie Man,’ Kent welcomed 2 sons, Sean and Ryan, with his first wife, and delighted in being a dad to 2 young boys. He became “Coach Kent” to hundreds of boys in the valley, coaching Optimist Football and Boise Youth Baseball for 32 years. Even recently, some of “his boys” still checked in on “Coach Kent”.

In August of 1992, Kent married his wife Karen, who gave Kent the opportunity to be a “girl-dad” as well, to her daughters Michelle and Melissa.

Kent retired from Archway Cookies in 2008, and that cookie truck retired with him as well. Kent began his life of leisure, dedicating his time to car shows and baseball games with his sons, trips to San Francisco, Victoria Canada, and the Oregon Coast with his wife, and long hours of peaceful living in his favorite place, his beautiful backyard. The most important part of his retirement, however, was becoming a dad again to a Beagle puppy named Chloe in 2008. Chloe became his life companion, she was a comfort to him during his long illness, and he loved her well until she crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2018.

The greatest opportunity Kent had was to be a Grandpa to 5 grandchildren, all of whom he adored equally. Austin, Addilynn, Finn, Elenore and Hudson brought Kent so much joy in the last years of his life, and “Grandpa” was his favorite thing to be.

Kent is survived by his wife of 29 years, Karen; his children, Ryan (Carrie) of Boise, Sean (Leslie) of Boise, Michelle (James) of Boise, and Melissa (Eric) of Johnstown CO; his 5 precious grandchildren; his little sister Kathy (Larry) DeMoss of Yakima WA, his dear Aunt and Uncle, Jan and Elton Young of Yakima WA, and countless cousins, relatives and friends.