Ecclesiastes 3: 1 & 2

1 To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die.

On October 13, 1923, I was born and blessed far in excess of the three score allotted man by God my true heavenly father. My earthly parents were Willie Kemp (son of Louis Cass Kemp and Fannie Theresa Ireland Kemp (daughter of John Ireland). I was born at our home in the old Corbit house on the banks of Bear Creek, Cedar Valley, Hays County, Texas in the United States of America.

I have been a Christian since 12. After growing up in Hays and Travis County I graduated from Austin High School in May of 1942. With the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941, I decided to volunteer for the Navy in the summer of 1942. I served in World War II as my daddy had done in World War I. Both of us very proudly served. I served aboard tow different warships in the Pacific Theater: USS Doherty ( DE 14) and the USS Dyson (DD572).

When the war was over I returned to a new life in Austin, Texas. I met and married beautiful Dorothy Mae Kieke on April 6, 1946. The Lord blessed us with two fine sons: Chester Lawrence "Larry" and David Wayne Kemp. I was a postman until August, 1950 when I was recalled to Naval service aboard ship in the Korean War, serving until December 31, 1952. I resumed being a postman in Austin until I returned to Naval service in 1954 at shore stations in Austin, Lubbock and Dallas. In 1962 I was assigned to the super aircraft carrier USS Saratoga ( CVA 60) and served aboard her until 1965. During that time we sailed in the Caribbean, Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. After a brief stint at Little Creek, Virginia, I volunteered for duty in Vietnam and was transferred there in the spring of 1968 at the age of 44. I served there until November of 1969 at which time I retired from the U.S. Navy and returned to Austin.

After a long separation my wife Dorothy and I resumed our lives together in Austin. I was employed by the IRS from 1970 to 1984. In 1984 we bought some acreage in Mason County and enjoyed spending time together there until her unexpected departure on May 23, 2001, while I was in Mason alone. After 55 years of marriage, I thought my world had come to an end. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. I stood by her casket with her precious little dog Penny, touching her one last time, broken hearted. I said "why not me instead of her"? My younger son David standing beside me (who had previously suffered the loss of two wives) said to me "Would you want mom standing here going through what you are?" What a wise and timely statement. How mysterious is the Lord's way. Ecclesiastes chapter 3, verse 4 'A time to weep and mourn'. I finally realized that she just got a head start on me to our heavenly home.

Then, in due time, the Lord let His light shine into my life once again. A fine lady in Mason, whom Dorothy had become friends with, and whose husband Dudley had passed away 3 months after Dorothy's passing, was unexpectedly brought into my life by the Lord. On September 7, 2002 Betty and I were married in the First Baptist Church, Mason, Texas where we both are members at the present time. "How Great Thou Art", Blessed is the name of the Lord.

I am survived by my wonderful "God given" wife, Betty Jane Kemp whom God so graciously provided me and my two sons in a time of such great need. Through these years of marriage, Betty has been a tremendous blessing and asset to me and now continues to be for my surviving loved ones. Thank you our "Heavenly Father" for bringing "Lady Betty" into my/our lives. She means so much to us all. Betty also brought her three fine children into our lives – son Edward Steapp, two daughters Gwendolyn Steapp (deceased) and Kathy Packer and husband "Chuck". I am also survived by sons and their wives Chester L. Kemp and wife Sheila Mae Kemp of Mason and David W. Kemp, Sr. and his wife Virginia Kemp of Austin, five natural grandchildren: David W. Kemp, Jr. (1968), Rachelle C. Kemp (1969), Heather L. Kemp (1969), Joshua Kemp (1970) and Sean Kemp (1971). Four of our grandchildren produced 9 great-grandchildren who are; Willie Mason Kemp (named after my father), Tracy and Tatum Disken, Elijah and Shiloh Dickinson and Anshaw, Tom, Sherry and Rebecca Kemp along with my sister Irene Gieldenstein and husband Al of Austin and a brother Bill Kemp and wife Suzan of Austin. I was preceded in death by a sister Mary Lee Webb Elliot. During my lifetime I have been blessed by countless Godly friends locally and around the world.

I grew up with a 22 Winchester rifle, hunting and trapping since I was old enough to hold a rifle. I have been hunting and handling firearms all my life. On Saturday, November 9, 2013, I shot my last buck. The Lord brought a magnificent buck into my rifle sights (at age 90 plus). He is now a fine wall hanger. God is so good!

I am a member of the First Baptist Church of Mason, Veterans of Foreign Wars (Life Member), Masonic Lodge (Past Master), National Rifle Association (Life Member), Texas State Rifle Association, Colt Collectors Association, Texas Farm Bureau, Travis County Mounted Sheriff's Posse, Texas Ranger Association Foundation and the Texas Sheriff's Association. Other items of note: Retired US Navy 1942 – 1969 and was classified as a disabled veteran due to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam, held a Private Pilot's License and currently hold a Concealed Handgun License.

Visitation with the family will be Tuesday morning, December 22, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Mason. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 at the church. Interment with military honors will be at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday afternoon at Cook Walden Forest Oaks Memorial Park in Austin.