PLEASANT GROVE — Kent Neil Griffith left an engineering firm in Salt Lake City about a year ago to take a job in Pleasant Grove.
Griffith's decision to change jobs hinged on a desire to be closer to his home, closer to his family.
Police say Griffith, 36, died Monday at his new workplace when a man he supervised, Louis Darrell Kinyon, shot him following a discussion about Kinyon's recent suspension.
Kinyon allegedly left the Provo River Water Users Association in a fit of anger following a morning meeting, then returned later with a handgun. He chased employees out of the building and fired three rounds at Griffith, who worked in the engineering division of the company, police said.
Kinyon then turned the gun on himself. He remains hospitalized after surgery at a Salt Lake hospital.
Griffith is survived by his wife, M'Lissa, and their four children — Brittany, 11; Taelor, 8; Austin, 5; and Houston, 17 months.
"His boss said Kent put himself in harm's way," said Lisa Hatch, Griffith's sister-in-law. "That didn't surprise M'Lissa at all. That's what she had already told the children, that if there was a situation where their dad could help others, he would do it."
Griffith's priorities were his family and his membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said his friend, Nathan Wood.
"Everything else took a distant second. Kent was absolutely dedicated to his family," Wood said. "He told me his best time of the day was going home to his wife and children."
Tuesday, Griffith was remembered by friends and family as someone who genuinely loved people. A physically imposing man — he played on the offensive line for Brigham Young University's football team from 1988-1991 and was a teammate of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Ty Detmer — Griffith regularly looked out for the welfare of others.
"A gentle giant was what he was. His stature was a tool to help people," Wood said. "He was the first person people would call when they needed help. He wanted people to call him. He loved to help. He died protecting other people. He died what he loved doing, protecting and defending others. Those who worked with him called him a hero. I think that's what he was."
Former BYU coach LaVell Edwards saw hundreds of players go through his football program. Still, Griffith stands out in his memory.
"He was always a guy who was very friendly and outgoing," Edwards said. "He was a sharp kid and a good student. He made himself into a good football player. He always worked hard in practice. He was a very likable guy with a happy countenance."
Those who know M'Lissa Griffith say they regard her as an example because of her reaction to the tragic loss.
"I was with her right after she found out what had happened," Hatch said of her sister. "Even at that early stage, she didn't have any anger or ill-will toward (Kinyon). She expressed concern about him and his family, who was also affected by this. She's an amazing person."
M'Lissa Griffith knew about the tense situation at work. "Kent had some angst over it," Hatch said. "He wasn't looking forward to meeting with him (Monday)."
Griffith was no stranger to adversity. Four years ago, he was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Doctors removed a 10-pound tumor, as well as his kidney, from his body. "He beat that against all odds," Hatch said.
Then, 18 months ago, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, from which he recently recovered. "That was a lot to go through," Hatch said. "He was just starting to feel better again."
The Griffith family had recently finished building their home in Pleasant Grove. They had done much of the work themselves, Wood said.
Before earning a master's degree from BYU in civil engineering, Griffith served an LDS Church mission to Hamburg, Germany.
"M'Lissa's belief in eternal life sustains her," Hatch said. "As tragic as this is, there is a comfort and peace."
Neighbors have established a trust fund at Zion's Bank in Kent Griffith's name.
E-mail: jeffc@desnews.com