Troy and Angie Gentry's marriage began in paradise -- Maui, Hawaii, to be exact -- on Dec. 14, 1999.

Troy Gentry, one-half of Montgomery Gentry, had one daughter, Taylor, from a previous marriage and one daughter, Kaylee, born in 2002, with Angie. In fact, Kaylee's name is a mixture of both of her parents.

"Angie’s middle name is Kay, and my middle name is Lee," explained Troy Gentry. His wife adds, "But she’s more like Troy. She can’t sit still. She’s very social. And she loves to perform."

And although Troy Gentry was an award-winning country artist, he and his family loved to do some pretty typical family activities.

"We enjoy the outdoors together," Gentry said. "We hike, fish, ride horses and spend time in the woods."

They also enjoyed the ballet and theater and art exhibits, and Kaylee, being a typical kid, loves the Adventure Science Center and the Nashville Zoo, her mom says.

Prior to Troy Gentry's death on Sept. 8, 2017, in a helicopter crash, the Gentrys said that their life centers around “God, family and respect for others," and they lived out that testament by choosing to support organizations such as the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

"When we meet the parents of these sick children, my heart bleeds for their suffering," says Angie Gentry. "We want to give them some kind of joy and something to look forward to."

The couple went through suffering themselves, however: In addition to Gentry's tragic death, Angie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014. She fought and beat the disease with her husband by her side.

More From KRFO-FM