Obituaries

Patty S Kemp

Photo of Patty S Kemp
Mrs. Patty S. Kemp, age 78 years, of Jefferson City, Mo., passed away surrounded by her family Monday, April 25, 2016, at the Summit Villa in Holts Summit, Mo . Patty was born December 18, 1937, in Tebbetts, Mo., the daughter of Perry C. and Helen M. Dorsey Forbis. She was married on December 20, 1953, in Mokane, Mo. to Russell L. Kemp, who preceded her in death on March 1, 1990. She met Russell at a dance when she was 15 years old and they continued to enjoy dancing the rest of their marriage. A lifelong resident of the Central Missouri area, Patty attended Mokane High School in Mokane, Mo. and later received her high school equivalency. Most of her life, she and her husband operated a 500 acre row crop farm in Callaway County. She cooked three delicious and hearty meals per day for family and any farm hands in their employment at the time. Later, she was employed with the Missouri Department of Revenue in the Dealers and Salvage Section from July 1984 until September 1994. From 1994 until 2000, she was employed with Scholastic, Inc. until her retirement. After her retirement she helped her daughter, Brenda, at the Summit Rose Nursery in Holts Summit, Mo. Patty was a member of the Tebbetts United Methodist Church; the Tebbetts Extension Club; was a 4-H leader for nine years; and was a member of the Extension Counsel of Callaway County for two years. She always enjoyed gardening. When she had a young family, she raised vegetables in later years, she maintained beautiful flowers and trees. She loved feeding and watching birds and her other pastimes included cake decorating, candy making, crocheting, needlework and other crafts. Patty cherished time with her family and had a lifelong love of reading. Survivors include: three daughters, Brenda S. Essen (husband William T.) of Holts Summit, Mo., H. Faye Zumwalt (husband William J.), and Debra L. Karaff (husband Michael) of Tebbetts, Mo.; one son, Russell G. Kemp (wife Penny) of Tebbetts, Mo.; one brother, Richard "Dick" Forbis (wife Loretta Lou) of Jefferson City, Mo.; a sister-in-law, Dora Potts (husband Tom) of Fulton, Mo.; 10 grandchildren, Rebecca Essen Veltrop, Robert Zumwalt, Patrick Essen, Jason Zumwalt, Lance Kemp, Brian Kemp, James Rericha, Jennifer Rericha, Joseph Kemp, Shawn Rericha; 11 great-grandchildren with another one expected in July 2016; one great-great-granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Russell; her mother and father-in-law, Floyd B. and Nellie Kemp; and three sisters-in-law, Helen Leeper, Edith Bosch, and Ruby Underwood. Visitation will be at Freeman Mortuary from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Friday, April 29, 2016. A Celebration of Patty's Life will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 30, 2016, in the Freeman Chapel with the Reverend Lowell Perkins officiating. Graveside services and interment will be held 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Middle River Cemetery in Mokane, Mo. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Middle River Cemetery Association. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary. www.freemanmortuary.com

Published April 27, 2016