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State revokes license of funeral home owner

Shannon Kent signs order forcing him to cease ownership, services of six funeral homes including business located in Gypsum

Shannon Kent, owner of Kent Funeral Home in Gypsum and five other funeral homes in Colorado, signed a state order prohibiting him from owning and operating his businesses following the discovery of disturbing conditions at his Leadville operation.
Daily file photo

Lake County Coroner Shannon Kent, the owner of six funeral homes in six Colorado communities including a facility in Gypsum, has signed an order with the state forcing him to no longer own and operate his businesses.

Kent’s license to operate his funeral homes and crematories has been suspended since October when the Lake County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant for his funeral home in Leadville and discovered unsanitary conditions.

According to a report by the Associated Press, Kent agreed to the stipulation on Tuesday. The state Division of Professions and Occupations, Department of Regulatory Agencies, Office of Funeral Home and Crematory Registration has now revoked his license and Kent can no longer participate in the funeral or cremation business in Colorado, officials said.



In addition to the regulatory agency’s actions, both the Lake County Sheriff and the Colorado Attorney General’s office launched investigations regarding Kent’s business operations and his actions as county coroner. The sheriff’s office confirmed Friday that its investigation is still underway.

In September of 2019, a grand jury indicted Kent for misconduct after he was accused of allowing his wife to act as a deputy coroner without any prior certification. Kent’s agreement to cease all funeral home operations does not stop him from continuing to serve as the Lake County coroner. He was elected as a Democrat to be Lake County coroner in 2014 and reelected in 2018

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