Shirley Willeford Kent

Shirley Willeford Kent Shirley Willeford Kent, aka Tomi Barrett, passed into the arms of her Lord on Thursday evening, September 8, 2005. Shirley was the beloved daughter of Bill (deceased) and Beth Willeford of Austin, Texas. Shirley was the adored wife of Gary Kent, also of Austin and Los Angeles, California. Her smile, her enormous gift for making others happy, her marvelous talent as an actress, producer, and stunt performer will be greatly missed by family and her many professional peers. Shirley (Tomi) was born in Austin on December 10, 1950. She graduated from high school in Corpus Christi, and attended the University of Texas, Texas A & I, and Stevens College, Missouri. Shirley was an accomplished dancer, winning many awards at the El Ray Dance Studio in Corpus Christi, a great horsewoman, and known for her water-skiing abilities – including skiing backward on one ski, and skiing barefoot. Shirley was the first woman Warehouse Foreman for the Katy Railroad, an American Airline Stewardess, and an Executive Secretary for several large corporations in the Dallas and San Antonio area. In the early 70’s she became a dance instructor at the Actor’s Workshop, in Dallas, where she met her husband, Gary, who was on a speaking engagement for the film industry. She was hired as dance choreographer on Brian De Palma’s academy nominated film, Phantom of the Paradise. She then played a lead role in Kent’s The Pyramid, which Johnny Carson deemed one of the best films of 1975. Shirley (Tomi) and Gary were married in July of 1977 after moving to Hollywood. She then starred in Don Jones film noir The Forest, and realized her dream of producing when she orchestrated cast, crew, script, etc., of Rainy Day Friends, starring Esai Morales, Carrie Snodgress and Janice Rule. Shirley’s film won Best Stunt in a Motion Picture at the International Stuntman Awards. She also did stunts in Street Corner Justice, with Marc Singer, as well as several commercials. Shirley is survived by her husband, Gary; her mother, Beth Willeford; six step-children, Greg, Colleen, Andrew, Chris, Alex, and Mike; three step-grandchildren, Timothy, Hannah and Nicolette; aunt, Dorothy Seals; aunt, Maybelle Shuler; uncle and aunt, Earl & Joanne Willeford; and a host of loving friends and family. Their will be a public viewing on Tuesday evening, September 13th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14th, at Weed-Corley-Fish Chapel. Interment will follow at Capital Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville. Servings as pallbearers will be Chuck Bail, Wesley Clay Roach, Bob Ivy, Don Jones, Mike Tierney, Joe O’Connell, Ric Williams, Mike MacFarland, John Herndon, and Robert Bayless. “What the caterpillar calls the end of the world…. The Butterfly calls the beginning of life ….” Obituary and guestbook available online at wcfish.com