December 21, 1965 - August 12, 2024
On Dec. 21, 1965, in Koshkonong, Missouri, our Lord blessed us with the birth of Jenny “Jen”Henrietta Gentry to parents Virginia (Nimmo) and Thomas Moews. Her father passed early in her life, and she was raised by her mother and stepfather, Darril Turner. Jenny departed her earthly life on Aug. 12, 2024, in Tulsa, at the age of 58, giving God the glory for his blessings and grace before her passing.
Young Jenny grew up and spent most of her life in Portales, New Mexico, where she later met Derek Gentry while attending Eastern New Mexico University. They married on Nov. 28, 1985. The Lord blessed their marriage of nearly 40 years with two children and five grandchildren. She and Derek made their home in Oklahoma in August 2006.
Jen worked as a licensed practical nurse before becoming a registered nurse in 1993 and continued in the nursing profession until 2014, when she suffered life-altering injuries in a wreck. Those injuries left her legally blind and unable to work as a nurse; however, Jen found her calling in a second passion: writing. She went on to author numerous books, articles, and blogs and served as an editor, marketer, and encourager through 4 Radiance Publishing House, which she co-owned with two partners.
Like her passion for writing, Jen loved Mopar muscle cars, a love shared by her sons and husband, and found herself fascinated by hummingbirds. Of the hummingbirds, she said they reminded her of her mother and explained that the tiny birds always appeared during times of significant life change. She shared that seeing hummingbirds reminded her that “I’m loved, I’m a child of God, and that whatever I’m going through, God will get me through.” Her faith in God never wavered.
In life, Jen served as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, friend, nurse, author, publisher, editor, volunteer, and servant. She also served as a living example of God’s amazing grace and miraculous healing. She deeply loved her family and prayed for them daily. Her love for the Lord and encouragements impacted friends and acquaintances internationally. In death, she leaves behind profound encouragements and bears witness of God’s goodness in fulfilling his promises through her enduring love, writings, and testimony.
Friends appreciated her honesty and support as she encouraged everyone to push through challenges and held us all in prayer. Several authors attributed to her their success in pursuing writing. Church members described her as “a light” and “committed servant”, who remained faithful until the end. Indeed, she also committed to be an organ donor, serving others even in death.
Jenny was preceded in death by her parents, sister Tammy Wilcox, brother Ben Wilcox, and one granddaughter Kimberlee Gentry.
Jenny is survived by sons Jarod (Heather) Gentry and Cory (Anna) Gentry, and grandchildren Karley, Killian, Koll, and Emily Gentry, all of Bristow, Oklahoma; brother Larry (Claudia) Cornelison, of Tulsa; brother Robert (Ruth) Cornelison, of Tulsa; brother Thomas (Carrie) Turner, of Tulsa; brother William “Billy” (Mary) Moews, of Tulsa; and sister Michelle (Montie Nickels), of Savannah,Tennessee.
A memorial service was held in her honor on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, at 10 a.m., at Cornerstone Church at 114 East 7th Avenue in Bristow with Pastor Mark Evans officiating. A reception followed at Venue 66 at 116 West 8th Avenue in Bristow.