Arthur Jeff Kemp

Arthur Jeff Kemp, 85, passed away peacefully at home on February 17. He was born April 7, 1932 in Houston to Violet Volz Kemp and Louis Witlz Kemp. He grew up at 214 Westmoreland where he proudly unveiled a Texas Historical Marker in 2013 honoring his father, a prominent Texas historian and author.

Jeff graduated from San Jacinto High School in 1950. He received his BBA degree in Economics from the University of Houston in 1954. At UH he was president of Chi Phi Fraternity. Jeff then attended the University of Texas Law School where he earned his LLB degree in 1956, graduating Summa Cum Laude. While at UT, he served as an officer in the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity.

Jeff married his high school sweetheart, Jan Owens, on June 2, 1956, at First Methodist Church. Soon after, he joined the U.S. Navy and completed Officer’s Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island before attending the Naval Justice School. Jeff earned the rank of Lt. JG and served his tours of duty aboard the U.S.S. Albany. He received his Honorable Discharge in 1958, but continued to serve in the Naval Reserve until 1966.

Jeff and Jan settled in Southwest Houston where they lived with their three children until 1973. He went into private law practice and was AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell for over thirty years, their highest rating. Jeff practiced law for over 50 years and was honored by the Texas Bar Association in 2006.

In 1968 after a visit to the HemisFair (World’s Fair) in San Antonio and discovering the Mormon Pavilion, Jeff and his family took missionary discussions and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, becoming part of the Maplewood Second Ward (Congregation). In 1973 after moving from Southwest Houston to Northwest Houston into Greenwood Forest, they attended the Melbourne Second Ward and eventually the Champions Ward.

Jeff was involved for many years in the FM 1960 Chapter of Rotary Club International, including service as president. He also gave back to the community by teaching classes on consumer law at North Harris Community College, now called Lone Star College.

Jeff loved reading, and was a voracious reader of history, especially WWII and physics. He was a lifelong collector of National Geographic Magazine and a daily reader of the Houston Chronicle; he especially liked reading the obituaries. Besides reading, Jeff enjoyed traveling to places in Texas and around the world. A favorite destination was to Bayou Vista to relax at the family bayhouse.

Jeff is survived by his wife of many decades, Jan, and their three children: Kayna Kemp Stout and husband Daniel of Laie, HI; Kellene Jan Kemp of Laie, HI; and Jeffrey George Wiltz Kemp and wife Gerise of The Woodlands. He will be missed by his four grandchildren: Boyd Aaron Stout, Byron Kemp Stout, Benjamin Daniel Stout, and Avery Raye Kemp.