John Lee Kemp, age 83, of Saint Cloud, Florida left this life on January 13, 2017 after a brief illness. He is survived by his son, Billy Kemp and wife Audrey of Oklahoma City, OK; daughter Soraya Kemp of Orlando, FL; grandson Brandon Kemp of Oklahoma City, OK; granddaughter Ashley (Kemp) Hobson and husband Talen Hobson of Oklahoma City, OK; great-grandson Carter Hobson of Oklahoma City, OK; sister Alice (Kemp) Shipp and husband Cecil (Bucky) Shipp of Augusta, GA; sister Myrtle Eddy of Orlando, FL; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
John was born on March 29, 1934, in Taft, Florida to parents James Kenneth Kemp and Lola Ada Holliday, and with nine brothers and sisters (Virgil, Delaney, Mabel, Harvey, Bertha Mae, Myrtle, Robert, Joseph, and Alice). John attended Orlando High School and then served in the United States Air Force from 1953 – 1957. John was a long-term employee of Randall Made Knives (Orlando) before starting John. L. Kemp Cutlery Company (Taft), and was known as master craftsman. John’s favorite pastimes were bass fishing, Florida Gators football, scrapping, and enjoying time with family. John was regarded as a wise, kind and generous man who took pride in being independent his entire life.
John’s children wish to recognize those family members who lovingly looked after him over the years, including Alice and Bucky Shipp, Karen Shipp, Ken Shipp, Myrtle Eddy, Pamela Lundquist, Susie Casteel, Ruth Joanne Yates, and Murray Yates, Jr.; and neighbors Debbie, Darlene and BJ who constantly checked in on him during his later years. A special thank you to the ER and ICU staff at Osceola Regional Medical Center who gave Dad loving care during his last days.
May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sunshine warm upon your face. May the rains fall upon your fields, And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
A visitation will be held for John on Wednesday January 17, 2018 from 1:00 – 1:30pm, with a service to begin at 1:30pm at Woodlawn Funeral Home. (400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road Gotha FL 34734) A gathering will take place at the funeral home, following the services, to celebrate John’s life. John will be laid to rest at Florida National Cemetery on Thursday, January 18, 2018.
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