Sudden Death Leaves Family Stunned

On Thursday, February 2, 2017, the family of 47 year old (Ret) MSGT Kevin Akers was unprepared for the death of their husband and father. Kevin Akers proudly served in the USAF for 21 years. Kevin retired from the USAF in 2012 and would go back to school in 2013 receiving his Licensed Practical Nursing degree. Kevin proudly worked in the medical field providing private duty nursing for patients in their homes. Kevin was an excellent caregiver and was loved by his patients and his coworkers. Kevin had a way of lighting up the dark and often lonely paths of those suffering with long term debilitating illnesses and turning those dark days into days of hope with frequent outbursts of laughter. It was not his work as a nurse that brought Kevin his most joy in life. It was his beautiful wife and best friend for 22 years and his 2 talented and thriving children who had their daddy full time now that he was retired from his military service. Sherry was Kevin's first love and their relationship stood solid even though there would be shaky times with Kevin's deployments. Sherry was often left alone with the job of raising their 2 children and juggling her work schedule. Not an easy task for two parents let alone one. Kevin worked the midnight shift so he could be home during the day to spend quality time with his 2 children. Twelve year old Caleb and 14 year old Chiara enjoyed having their father as part of their active lives. Nothing brought Kevin anymore joy than his family. You could watch his eyes light up as he spoke lovingly and often about his family. Another love of Kevin's was his Harley Davidson motorcycle. Kevin had PTSD due to his combat experiences but he found peace while on his bike receiving much needed wind therapy! Kevin had recently found out about the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association and that there was a chapter very close to him. Kevin would not live long enough however to be able to meet those who like himself had combat experience while putting his life on the front lines defending our wonderful nation. On February 2, 2017, all of Kevin's hopes, dreams, and joy was snuffed out suddenly when he suffered cardiac arrest causing a fatal brain injury. Kevin's wife and best friend is suddenly alone and this time Kevin would not be coming back home. Caleb and Chiara would lose the one man who brought so much into their home and lives. This young family is left not knowing how they are going to go forward in life without the one man who was their rock! They are left with many bills and funeral expenses during a time when this young family has not had a great deal of time to prepare for this day. Kevin was my coworker and my friend. We had talked of riding our bikes together with our spouses. Now we are talking about the loss of his life and the impact he made on all that were fortunate to have known him. This fund is being set up to help this family during the darkest time of their lives. That through their loss there are still others who not only will pray for this family but offer what they can financially to help ease this burden from them. They should only have to focus on the death of their loved one not the financial burden this father, husband, and breadwinner has suddenly left on those that Kevin loved the most. God speed Kevin as you ride on the clouds above. May the Lord bless your family and place angels about them all the days of their lives to protect them. You were an incredible person and you will be an even more incredible guardian angel over your family. Thank you my friend for your service to country and to those you compassionately cared for while working with all of us at Medical Services of Northwest Florida in Navarre, Florida. You are missed.