On February 5th, 2023, Brent Carter Stanton said “Adios” and hit the road for the last time. He died at his home on E. Benson Highway in Tucson, Arizona, he was 83 years old. Son of Gladys Von Holt Stanton and Earl Stanton, brother to Terry Stanton and Joy Stanton Smith. Since his birth on April 25th, 1939, in Glencoe, Illinois, Brent chose to live life against the grain and in his own way.
We remember Brent riding through a stop light on his motorcycle wearing his skull and crossbones leather jacket. We remember Brent, AKA “Daddy Cool” making his way across the Pacific at age 19 on The USS Windham Bay. We remember Brent, hanging around Steve’s Bar in Detroit, or shuffling down N. Michigan Ave in Chicago on his way to work at International Harvester. We remember Brent, a traveling sign painter, lettering trucks, and painting storefront windows in little towns across America. We remember Brent for his oil paintings and sketches that captured his appreciation for the simple beauty of life.
Brent was one tough son of a bitch. Some may compare him both in his looks and demeanor to the likes of Claude Van Damme, Clint Eastwood, or Gary Cooper. Very few men can say they’ve crossed the country multiple times in a car with no brakes or rebuilt an engine in the back of a truck stop. Even fewer can say they’ve survived nights in naval brigs or walked away from being robbed with a smile on their face because of the 50-dollar bill always stashed in their left shoe.
During his life, Uncle Brent taught us to have a sense of value. He built the home he lived and died in with his own hands out of the things most people didn’t want. He lived with no more than he needed but never passed up a good deal at a junkyard, swap meet, thrift store, or Dollar Store. He savored his Wednesday morning breakfast at Joe’s Pancake House, his Saturday afternoon spaghetti and meatballs at the TTT, and his nightly ritual of vanilla ice cream and Netflix with a beloved dog by his side.
We remember Brent greeting the day with a glass of orange juice and a melody picked on his guitar. We remember him sitting cross-legged on the couch with a sketch pad and charcoal pencil. We remember Brent watching the white-winged doves and the occasional cardinal visit the bird feeder outside his window.
Brent will be laid to rest at 12:00 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2023 at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Marana, 11950 N Luckett Rd, Marana, AZ 85653.
And today, we thank you, Brent, for showing us that life’s greatest gifts are simple. You knew that better than anyone.
Adios.
Our sincere condolences.
The staff of Marana Mortuary & Cemetery.
Marana Mortuary & Cemetery
Our sincere condolences.
The staff of Marana Mortuary & Cemetery.