Kent Stuart McLaren left this world on July 25, 2025, just the way he wanted: peacefully, with family by his side, after living large, loving deeply, and showing up for the people he cared about. He poured himself into others with a tireless willingness to listen, to help, and to simply be there. He celebrated life with passion, intensity, and fullness. He showed us that every day was another chance to visit with a neighbor, tell a good story, cheer on his family, or bask in the sun. Kent didn't just go through life. He threw himself into it, heart first.
Kent didn't love small. He only knew how to love big, and everything that he cared about mattered to him. He kept matchbooks and rocks from all over the world because they reminded him of where he'd been and who he was with. From there it became a collection that others contributed to. He held onto photos of friends and family like treasures. His love wasn't neat or selective. It was wholehearted, expressive, and unapologetically his.
No one was tougher. He could grind up a mountain with quiet grit, then come home and find peace watering the yard or listening to music. He was a communicator in every sense—a thoughtful speaker, a good storyteller, and the loudest clapper in the room when someone he loved was onstage. He believed in showing up fully, paying attention, and letting people know they mattered.
Kent was passionate in every sense of the word. He loved long-distance running, competing in Ride 'n Tie events, playing tournament poker, keeping stats in Clippers basketball games, and spending time with his family. He appreciated great music and great food—his tastes were as wide-ranging as his interests: Mozart and the Beatles, chocolate eclairs and ramen noodles. He found joy in all of it.
He loved being outdoors. The wild beauty of Rocky Sea Pass, Lake Powell, Snowbird, Crescent Cove, and the trails he ran or rode on horseback throughout California and Utah gave him something nothing else could. He was definitely a cowboy, probably more of an Indian, and without question a Scotsman. He lived that way, bold, loyal and a little bit wild. One of his favorite lines was from Braveheart: "Every man dies, not every man really lives." Kent didn't just love that line, he lived it.
Kent graduated from Highland High School (1968) and the University of Utah (1973) and from there went on to build a successful career in builder's hardware. He had his own rep agency and worked his lines till the week before he passed.
After serving as the official scorer for the L.A. Clippers for 30 years, Kent brought his good feel for statistics and accuracy to the poker world. At the time of his passing, Kent was the COO of Protection Poker, a company that is transforming tournament poker by providing a fair and efficient action clock that speeds along play during games.
He is survived by his loving spouse, Christina McLaren; their daughters, Callie McLaren and Courtney Huber; his sister, Kathy Bell and brother, Stuart McLaren. He was the proud "bumpa" to his grandchildren, Miles and Micah Bentzley, Holland Hope and Cannon Huber. He was predeceased by his parents, Keith and Faye McLaren.
In celebration of Kent's life, a memorial service will be held on August 9, 2025, at 11:00am at the LDS chapel, 28291 Alicia Pkwy, Laguna Niguel, California, 92677. The family will receive visitors from 10:00-11:00am, immediately preceding the service. We invite all those whose lives Kent touched to join us in remembering and honoring this extraordinary man.
Richard Heaney
Kent and I were both members of the track and cross-country teams, so we spent a lot of time together. We would do our workouts every weekday in seventh-period athletics, and competed together in weekly races. We both lived on the east bench within a few blocks of each other, so we walked home from Highland together. We were always hungry after working out and would stop on the way at the Arctic Circle to get an order of fries to munch as we walked along. Personality-wise we couldn't have been more different, but we always got along well. Hanging out with Kent was interesting because he could charm the birds out of the trees, and any encounter with strangers along our way would end up with Kent making another new friend. I was the exact opposite - intimidated when meeting people. So I just watched Kent working his charm and admired his ease with everyone, stranger or friend. It was something to see, and still brings a smile to my face. He may have been a Scot, but he had the gift of the blarney. I would tell him that and he would just smile and make no comment.
After high school I went off to college in Oregon and Kent went to the U., so I'm afraid we lost touch and I never really knew him as an adult - except for catching up at a couple of reunions. I am happy to see that he enjoyed a satisfying family life and many interesting pursuits. Kent was a wonderful person to know, and the world truly is a poorer place without him.
Dennis Frandsen
It is so rewarding to me to hear the stories of the many who have passed (Kent in this case] AND the comments of those who are still living (e.g. Richard). There is so much I learn that I didn't know or had forgotten about. Thanks!