Derek Wayne Brumfield, 42, of Santa Barbara, CA, formerly of Clovis, NM, passed away on December 20, 2018, in Albuquerque, NM while visiting friends and family for the holidays.
Born to Don and Gayla Brumfield on April 8, 1976, Derek graduated from Clovis High in 1994, attended Eastern New Mexico University and went on to The University of New Mexico, graduating in 1999. He began his career as a financial planner with Fidelity Investments in Dallas. He married Tori (Gibson) Brumfield on October 16, 1999 and soon after relocated to Phoenix with their daughter (Kendall Brumfield), where he worked for Merrill Lynch Investments. In 2001 he moved his family to Santa Barbara, CA where he fulfilled a life-long dream and started a company with professional mentor Keith Kelt and lifelong friend Landon Kelt. The Kelt Group (TKG), opened it’s first office in Montecito, CA. It successfully weathered a series of tumultuous market conditions and continued to grow. As a Principal Founding Partner and Director of Investment Platform at TKG Financial, LLC, Derek consulted and supervised the firm’s investment product platform, directing private client assets and portfolio construction.
There are people you meet in life you never forget. Derek was one of those people. His humor was infectious, his laugh deep and hearty, and his bear hugs warm and sincere. Within your first introduction he’d instantly put you at ease. So it’s no surprise he had an ever growing group of friends and colleagues with whom the bonds grew stronger every year.
A lover of sports, particularly baseball, he claimed a life-long loyalty to the New York Yankees. His bucket list was shortened after seeing his beloved Yankees win multiple world series in Yankee Stadium. As a fan of New York City, he was proud to have run in 2 of its marathons. The first one 25 years after his Grandfather Marvin completed the race, and a second,
just two years later.
His passion for the outdoors and appreciation of nature was witnessed by his love of hiking the beautiful Santa Barbara county trails; frequent trips to national and state parks; and a familial fondness for the natural beauty of his home state of New Mexico.
But Derek’s biggest love was family. He was happiest when family came together. Especially during the holidays. He loved with intensity and everything he had to give. For almost 19 years he was a devoted husband to wife Tori, and a very proud, deeply dedicated father to daughter Kendall, about whom he bragged whenever given the opportunity.
Derek is preceded in death by his granddad Marvin Huguley and his loyal four-legged companion, Jasper.
He is survived by his wife Tori, daughter Kendall, parents Don and Gayla Brumfield, grandmother Mary Huguley, sister Cristi and brother-in-law Scott Lubera, niece Kate, nephew Nic, uncle Ricke Huguley, aunt Carla and uncle Bill Carter, cousins Matthew and Mark Carter (and their families), his best dog pal, Frankie and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
