Pat Hemphill

Mr. Hemphill was born May 17, 1928 to Myrtle (Berrier) and George D. Hemphill at their farm home in Blaine township, Clay County Kansas. He graduated from Clay Center Community High School in 1946 and then joined the United States Navy with four classmates and served for two years. He married Delores (Nemnich) January 2, 1949 in Clay Center, Kansas.

Pat had lived all his life on a farm and been a farmer for 30 plus years himself in Clay County and was friends with the the owner of a well established grain handling business in Clay Center, Kansas. Mid-life can often bring a desire for a career change. A major decision was then made to open this type of business in Mid-Missouri. Pat and his family moved to Columbia in January 1980. The mid 80‘s high interest rates plus the severe drought that hit Missouri farming communities a decision was reached to close the business. Pat then worked for Mid America Plastics, a company right next to his grain handling business, for eight years. Since Pat always had a love for the outdoors, he and his John Deere lawn tractor then began to receive requests to mow other lawns. Keene Medical Building and Berrywood Medical Building hired him for 11 years to be in charge of their lawn and grounds. Each morning their lawn and grounds, his pride and joy, were first on his list in order to be immaculate for the day! Pat would then join his coffee group at McDonalds on Clark Lane. After both of his knees received replacement surgery, it was now time to quite this lawn service. And yet, always wanting to be busy, he became the owner of several rentals. Due to Pat’s declining health they have now been all sold.

Pat loved sports and was on a bowling team for several years while living in Kansas. Golf was also on his sport list in Kansas as well as Missouri. In 1988 and 1989 he received gold medals in pole vault, triple jump, long jump and high jump in the Senior Show-Me Games.

Pat is survived by his wife of the home, two daughters in Kansas, Debbie (David) Hall of El Dorado, and Susan (Galen) Jackson of Wichita, and two sons, Brian (Natalie) Hemphill, Clay Center, KS and Brent (Deanna) Hemphill, Jefferson City, MO. Eleven grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Pat was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers - Frank Hemphill, Rio Rancho, NM and Bluford Hemphill, Clay Center, KS.

A Visitation Celebrating Pat’s Life will be held from 5 to 7 P.M. Tuesday, January 17th. at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W, Columbia, Missouri. Then a Visitation also Celebrating Pat’s Life will be at the Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home from 5 to 7 P.M. in Clay Center, Kansas with burial in Greenwood Cemetery in Clay Center, Kansas

Memorials may be made for the veteran’s to the Community Living Center at Harry S. Truman Memorial Veteran’s Hospital, 800 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65201. In Clay Center, Kansas memorials may be made to St Paul’s Episcopal Church at Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral home, 918 7th St., Clay Center, KS 67432 .