Kent Leon Rideout (’86), senior vice president and chief operating officer of Abilene Christian Investment Management Company (ACIMCO), died June 5, 2022, at age 65 in a motorcycle accident in Arkansas.
Visitation with the family will take place Sunday, June 12, from 2-4 p.m. at Piersall Funeral Directors (733 Butternut St., Abilene, Texas 79602). A memorial service will be held Monday, June 13, at 11 a.m. in the auditorium at Southern Hills Church of Christ (3666 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, Texas 79605). A private family graveside service will precede the memorial service.
Rideout was born Feb. 19, 1957, in Abilene, earned a B.B.A. degree from ACU, and had been employed at the university for 27 years. He began his career at his alma mater in 1995 as assistant controller for plant and endowment. Previously, he worked for Pittencrieff Communications; Davis, Kinard & Co.; and as an auditor in Midland, Texas. Rideout also served as a member of the Board of Trustees at Abilene Christian Schools.
He wed Merri Lynn Blay (’80), on July 8, 1978. Kent was a former elder at Southern Hills Church of Christ and was involved in mission work abroad, including in Haiti, China and Thailand.
He was preceded in death by his father, former ACU faculty member Dr. Holbert Rideout (’46 M.S.), and grandsons Cade Rideout and Caleb Rideout.
Among survivors are Merri Lynn, his wife of 43 years; a daughter, Kara Rideout Collins (’03) and her husband, Christopher Collins; a son, Craig Rideout (’06) and his wife, JoDee (Wright ’03) Rideout; grandchildren Branson, Brooklyn, Adilyn, Audrey and Calan; his mother, Stella (Haun ’65) Rideout; and siblings Larry (’75) and Gwen Rideout; Janna Sue Owen (’75); Teryl (’75) and Sharon Rideout; Deryl (’76) and Dr. Cathy (Teague ’76) Rideout; and Nyla Jill (Rideout ’74) and Steve Davis.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the university’s Holbert and Stella Rideout Religious Education Endowed Scholarship (ACU Box 29132, Abilene, Texas 79699-9132 or bit.ly/KentRideout).
– Ron Hadfield
June 9, 2022