Kayden Taylor Pennock was born August 17, 2008 to Jessica and Taylor Pennock. He was the most beautiful and perfect boy we had ever seen. He died due to injuries sustained in a tragic scooter accident on March 4th, 2022. Kayd is survived by his dad and mom, brothers: Kolton, Blake, and Dax, grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and so many friends.

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Kayd was a brilliant baby who hit all of his milestones early, especially when it came to communication. He spoke in complete sentences and could name every dinosaur by age two. We frequented dinosaur parks and museums and as his mom I took great pride in the strangers that gawked at the teeny-tiny human that made comments like, “Look, Mom! That herbivore is a pachycephalosaurus.”

As a toddler he kept everyone laughing with his endless energy and creativity. He constantly said things that had family and friends laughing and quoting him for weeks. We knew we were in trouble when Kayd started using our own parenting strategies against us at the tender age of two. He would declare “Mom and Dad, I’m going to give you two choices…” We would often say “Kayd is too smart for our own good.” And for just over 13 years he taught us so many lessons.

Kayd was extremely bright and learned things quickly. He was also a born leader. His preschool teacher told us he would rule the world one day. We didn’t get that far, but Kayd spent countless hours running the playground at school, the park, neighborhood friends, cousins, and, of course, his brothers in elaborate make-believe games that often include full costume getup, light sabers, swords, and an array of other home made props.

Anxiety, ADHD and other mental health issues started to rear their heads when Kayden was around 9 years old. They grew to the point of nearly debilitating and made life harder on Kayd than it should have been for a while. But, Kayd worked so hard to gain understanding, acceptance, and control over his emotions. Harder than we have ever seen a pre-teen boy work for anything. This journey brought him so much awareness, tolerance, kindness, and an ability to love and appreciate everyone. Kayd’s emotional intelligence was rare and unique and wonderful. It’s one of the things that made him most special.

Kayd loved animals. He took us on hundreds of hours of bug catching safaris and lizard catching adventures. A salamander he caught once lived in our kitchen for an entire summer. The tarantula was only allowed to be in the house for a couple of hours. He loved our dogs and the Hansen family’s cats. But, most of all, he loved birds. His green cheeked conures “Miso” and “Kashi” loved Kayden so much they almost burst with squeaks, whistles, and even dance moves when they saw him. He was so sweet and gentle with them, and spent time every day making sure they felt loved.

Kayd has impeccable taste in music. He has put together playlists that included everything from 80’s rock, to K-Pop, to Lo-Fi, to Synthwave since he was a first-grader. He plays the guitar and the clarinet. Listening to him make music brought us so much joy. Kayd also expressed his creativity through writing, drawing, graphic design, videomaking, and of course, his signature style. It started out as a red cowboy hat and boots at two years old and has evolved to his unmistakeable hair swoop, beanies, and sweatshirts. His favorite color is still red.

He had many hobbies. Some of his favorite things included traveling, gaming, youtubing, building legos, exploring with friends, playing tennis, playing the guitar, watching Marvel and Star Wars movies, camping, hiking, swimming, the beach, rockhounding, hot tubbing, eating cereal, and going to the gas station for a treat. Kayd had a lifetime of adventures in thirteen years. He had such big dreams, and none of us have any doubt that he was going to reach them all.

Kayd was an active member in his teachers quorum and loved the boys and leaders at church. He road his scooter to the church early on Sundays to help prepare for the sacrament, and was excited to mentor Kolton as he came into Young Mens this year. Kayd attended the temple for the first time the night before the accident. When he got home that night he told me, “Wow, Mom. The temple is a really happy place.” He had an undeviating moral compass. He was a great example to us in never wavering in his standards and faith.

Kayd was an incredible friend. He was thoughtful, kind, understanding, and funny. He scooped people in when they needed it. He included people not because it was what he was supposed to do, but because it was who he was. He loved making people happy and entertaining the crowd- no matter the setting. Everything about Kayd was genuine.

Kayd was such a great brother. Kole, Blake, and Dax all look up to him and want to be like him. He teased them incessantly, but he also loved them fiercely. He protected them, taught them, included them, and cared for them.

Kayd was wonderful, unique, kind, empathetic, creative, silly, confident, talented, brave, determined, and so many more things. But most of all, he was good. Through and through. His final act of goodness came as he donated his heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver to strangers in desparate need.

We are so lucky to have spent the last 13 ½ years with Kayden. He changed and continues to change us all for the better. Watch down on us from heaven, babe. We love you with all of our hearts.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 11:00 am with a viewing starting at 9:30am at 3382 E N Spring Mountain Drive, Eagle Mountain, Utah. A viewing will also be held on Friday, March 11, 2022 at the same location. Interment to follow at Memorial Mountain View Mortuary; 3115 E 7800 S, Cottonwood Heights, Utah. Services will also be Live-Streamed: https://sites.google.com/view/sundaymeetings/home

Services

Viewing

Friday, Mar. 11, 2022 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
LDS Church
3382 E N Spring Mountain Drive, Eagle Mountain, Utah
Eagle, UT 84005

Viewing

Saturday, Mar. 12, 2022 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
LDS Church
3382 E N Spring Mountain Drive, Eagle Mountain, Utah
Eagle, UT 84005

Funeral Service

Saturday, Mar. 12, 2022 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
LDS Church
3382 E N Spring Mountain Drive, Eagle Mountain, Utah
Eagle, UT 84005

Services Handled By

Memorial Mountain View Mortuary & Cemetery
3115 East 7800 South
Cottonwood Heights, UT

Life Story Info

Post Date

Mar 08, 2022

Personal Info

Age

13
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Guestbook

I do not know your family or your son. That was a wonderful tribute you wrote for your precious son. As I read about him I could tell he was a very speacial person that you will be greatly missed by many many people.

Please know I am praying for your family and that the Lord's Spirit will be upon you heal and move forward.

God Speed to your family!

Mike , South Jordan, UT, US Mar 09, 2022

Prayers continue for the Pennock family. I appreciate their stories of faith and strength.

Rohrbach Family , Saratoga Springs, UT, US Mar 09, 2022

Timeline


  • 2010
  • 2017

    In second grade, Kayd, some of my other friends, started a game during recess that we called Kids War. This game lasted a week or two and honestly started because of Kayd. I am so grateful for those memories now. Thank you Kayd.