Beloved Community Figure Carol Stent Passes Away at 86

Carol A. Stent, a cherished member of the Overton, Nevada community, passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 22, 2025, at the age of 86. Surrounded by her beloved husband, David Y. Nakahara, she leaves behind a legacy of love and friendship that touched the lives of many.

Born on July 14, 1939, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Carol was the daughter of John and Jenny (Slajinsky) Prespolis. She graduated in the Class of 1957 from Saint Mary’s of the Annunciation, where she formed lifelong bonds with her classmates and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, who played significant roles in her education.

After her graduation, the call of adventure led Carol and four of her classmates to San Francisco, California, where they pursued careers and found partnerships. In Los Angeles, Carol’s striking beauty and vibrant spirit captured the attention of Raymond Michael Stent, a medical intern from England at Los Angeles County U.S.C. Hospital. They married at the picturesque Wayfarers Chapel and enjoyed a life filled with promise until their divorce in the 1980s.

In a new chapter, Carol found love again with David Nakahara, an attorney in Torrance, California. The couple wed in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 20, 1989, and later moved to Las Vegas in 1998, where they shared their lives with a total of seventeen pets, whom they affectionately referred to as their “fur babies.”

Carol was not only a passionate advocate for animal welfare but also a pillar of strength for her family. She played a vital role in caring for David’s aging parents during their final years. Despite facing her own health challenges, including a stroke that left her partially paralyzed, Carol’s resilience shone through. Her ability to provide support, advice, and love was unwavering.

Throughout her life, Carol inspired those around her with her wit, determination, and unyielding spirit. She was known for her love of beauty in all forms, embracing the philosophy of cherishing “all things Bright and Beautiful, All Creatures Great and Small.”

Carol is survived by her husband, David, and her sisters, Paula Couture of Dracut, Massachusetts, and Naples, Florida, Janet Buchino of Randolph, Massachusetts, and Naples, Florida, and Helen Botehlo of Conway, South Carolina.

As the community mourns her passing, Carol A. Stent’s impact remains profound. She illuminated the lives of many with her love and compassion, reminding those who knew her of the importance of kindness and connection. In her memory, we celebrate her life and legacy, echoing her sentiment of “Soli Deo Gloria… Only To God the Glory.”