Brent Ray Fairbanks

Brent Ray Fairbanks, age 63, passed away peacefully in his sleep in his Anaheim home on March 11, 2023. The cause of death was cardiac arrest as Brent had battled heart disease for several years. Brent was born in Salt Lake City almost at noon on his due date of January 9, 1960. As a small child, Brent moved with his family to southern California where he attended Handy Elementary School, Cerro Villa Junior High School, and Villa Park High School. Brent earned the rank of Eagle Scout at age 16, worked at Spears Market in Orange, California as a teenager, and purchased his first motorcycle at age 18. Brent spent his professional career working in the technology industry. In the early 80s, Brent worked for Billings Computer (in California and Utah), followed by securing employment at Anaheim-based Autonetics (later Rockwell and Boeing) in the fall of 1982, where he received multiple merit awards and honors. In 1986 Brent became an entrepreneur and launched his own small business, Electronic & Computer Specialties (ECS). After four years working out of his house, Brent moved ECS into a commercial space on N. Glassell Ave in Orange where the business operated from 1990 onwards. Brent married Tamara Christianson in 1981, and the following year they welcomed their daughter, Jennifer Lindsey Fairbanks, in June. Brent and Tamara divorced in 1985. Jennifer has always been and continues to be one of the greatest sources of joy in Brent’s life. Jennifer also gave him his beloved granddaughter, Korrah Lynnae Brandt, in July of 2011. While working at Autonetics, Brent met the love of his life, Susan Young. Brent and Susan were married in July, 1989 and together took over the primary parenting responsibilities for Jennifer. Brent and Susan deeply loved each other, understood each other, and brought immeasurable happiness to one another throughout their many years together. They enjoyed scuba diving, traveling, cooking, riding bicycles, exercising, talking, and simply being together. Anyone who knows Brent knows his passion for helping those in need. Among his many volunteer and humanitarian endeavors, he worked with Build Futures, an organization dedicated to helping homeless 18 to 24-year-old youth from the streets to receive safe, stable housing, while providing the services, resources, and support they need to develop long-term independence. In lieu of flowers, please honor Brent by making a generous donation to Build Futures at https://www.buildfutures.org/donate. Brent is survived by his wife, Susan; daughter, Jennifer; granddaughter, Korrah; parents, Marjorie and Raymond; sister, Sally Johnson (Larry); brother, Matthew Fairbanks (Trish) and by cherished friends and extended family too numerous to list. Brent brought much good and love into the world. As our dear husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend, Brent, we love you and miss you! In time, we look forward to a joyous reunion in the hereafter through the grace of the Savior, Jesus Christ.