Memorials › Emerson Leon Kemp
Emerson Leon Kemp
25 Apr 1921 – 9 Nov 2004
| Birth | 25 Apr 1921 |
| Death | 9 Nov 2004 |
| Cemetery | Miller Cemetery Tryon , McPherson County , Nebraska , USA |
| Added by | Karin Lange on 13 Oct 2014 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51317111 |
Bio
E.L. "Tom" Kemp Sr. E. L. "Tom" Kemp Sr., 83, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2004, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center from injuries received while working livestock at his ranch north of Tryon. He was born April 25, 1921, the fifth of eight children, to George and Florence Johnson Kemp at Mowequa, Ill.. At 8 years of age he drove horses, pulling wagon loads of grain 8 miles to Mowequa, following his father. The "1929 Bust," as he called it, caused the family to have to sell horses, mules, machinery, cattle and hogs and move to Alton, Ind., in 1932, where his parents were from originally. He swam the width of the Ohio River at Alton, which was approximately 1 mile wide, several times. In October 1936, he rode a bus to North Platte at the age of 15. His older brothers Clay, Ray and Walter were in the Tryon area, where Tom worked for various ranches and the Fall Sugar Mill Campaign near Scottsbluff. Christmas 1939 found the four brothers and those who had families traveling in two cars back to Bethany, Ill., where his parents and younger brothers and sister resided. He had a model A coupe which lost its brakes near Nebraska City. He drove it to Illinois and back to Tryon, slowing and stopping it by turning off the key. Upon returning to Tryon shortly after Christmas, brother Ray took Tom to Mullen where he boarded a train for Gillette, Wyo., where he worked on a ranch 80 miles north of the Wyoming-Montana state line the rest of the winter. Tom married Lucille Fuller in North Platte June 18, 1942. She preceded him in death Feb. 22, 1979. They lived north of Tryon approximately 9 miles on the "Glunt" place. They lost their home to a fire in January 1943. They moved to their new home four miles north of Tryon in 1944. Four sons were born to the couple, Tom, Gary, Monty and Rex. Tom drilled wells from the early 1950s to 1972. He served on many boards, including the county commission, State County Officials Association, McPherson County Rural Fire District, the District 24 and 4 School Boards, ASCS Soil Conservation District, Tryon Roping Club and others. He married Mary McNutt, Jan. 5, 1981. Tom "worked at retirement," as he would say. He was doing exactly what he enjoyed up until the moment he got bucked off of his horse. Tom looked death in the eye in 1942 with a ruptured appendix and again in 1986 in a car accident. Survivors include his wife Mary of Tryon; sons Tom of Hershey, Gary (Jean) of Maywood, Monty (Elsie) of North Platte and Rex (Jeanine) of Ogallala; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; sister Virginia Parr of Alton, Ind.; and step-children Shara Smyth, Patty Kemp, and Mart and Duane McNutt. He was also preceded in death by his parents; sister Pearl; and brothers Clay, Ray, Walter, Huck and Richard. Services were Nov. 12 at Adams and Swanson Chapel with the Rev. Jay Bessmer officiating. Burial was at Miller Cemetery at Tryon. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to the McPherson County Fire and Rescue. Adams and Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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Family
Parents
Spouse
Siblings
- Casius M. "Clay" Kemp 1908–1973
- James Ray Kemp 1910–1966
- Malcom Walter Kemp 1912–1997
- Virginia Elizabeth Kemp Parr 1919–2020
- Everett Russell "Huck" Kemp 1923–1980
- Vivian Pearl Kemp Winters Jontz 1925–1979
- Richard Francis Kemp 1928–1984
Children
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