Michael Gentry

James Michael Gentry, age 82, husband of the late Carolyn Sparks Gentry, went to be with his Lord and Savior on November 15, 2024. He was the son of Grady Hopewell Gentry and Elsie Carlisle Gentry, and he is survived by his sister, Alice Stull. Mike was born in Madisonville, KY and grew up in Providence, KY. He earned a B.S. in Agriculture from Western Kentucky University and earned his DVM from Auburn University in 1969.

Mike and Carolyn married on August 28, 1965. They settled in Lexington, KY where Mike purchased Town & Country Pet Hospital. He later built Richmond Road Vet clinic and was part of the group of local veterinarians that created the AA Small Animal Emergency Service to serve the community and provide better work life balance for veterinarians. He was also an owner of 15 Banfield hospitals and ended his career as the owner of Sheabel Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Gentry was known for his compassionate care of pets and creating a caring workplace for his team members.

Mike enjoyed fishing and chartered trips with family and friends from deep sea to the Great Lakes. He was a horse enthusiast and enjoyed making thoughtful breeding selections, partnering with the right trainers, and participating in horse shows that yielded multiple Grand Champions over the years. One of his favorite pastimes was riding on his trusted companions, Peanut and Mikey, and he also participated in several cattle drive trips. During his retirement he fulfilled a life-long dream of raising Wagyu cattle. His passion for cattle, science, and genetics chartered, Windy Hill Wagyu, and he became an active member of the American Wagyu Association, a strong advocate for KY hosting Wagyu events, including the first ever Wagyu Super at Bluegrass Stockyard in 2023. He’s recognized for some of the best genetics in the industry. He was a generous man who gave of his time and resources freely. At his death Mike was a member of First Christian Church of Versailles.

Mike is survived by a daughter, Kathryn Curnutte Farmer (Chris) of Lexington, a son, Michael Gentry, Jr. (Allison), of Versailles, four grandchildren – Cy Curnutte, Hustonville, Trey Gentry (Brittany), Versailles, Rachael Curnutte, Versailles and Grady Gentry, Lexington and three great grandchildren- Jackson, Emerson, and Lucy Gentry.

Visitation will be at 11am on Friday, December 6th, 2024, at First Christian Church in Versailles, KY. A Celebration of Life will follow at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Woodford Humane Society.