Kathleen Marie Kemp

Kathleen Marie Kemp, fondly known as Red, died on July 13th, 2016 in St. Joseph, Michigan at the Whitcomb Retirement Home. She was the daughter of Myrtle Hatfield and Osgood Darby Wells, born on September 28, 1919 in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. Cremation has taken place and no service will be held. Those who wish to do so may make a contribution to the charity of their choice. Arrangements entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, St. Joseph. Red graduated from McKenzie High School in Detroit, Michigan. She went on to graduate from cosmetology school and was a stylist all of her life. She and her late husband, Ben Kemp owned and operated salons in the Vincent Hotel, Pleasant Street and Kathy Kemp’s Continental Beauty Salon. Red was very active throughout her life. She was captain of the Detroit City Women’s Ice Hockey team in her younger years. She had a fondness for riding Harley-Davidsons during the 1930s and enjoyed boating, golfing, bowling and dancing. She traveled the world extensively, owned horses and swam at South Shore Racquet Club into her 90s. Gardening was another favorite pastime of hers, and she was known for her beautiful landscaping. Her yard was photographed for many gardening articles over the years. She played music by ear on her Hammond B-3 organ and was known to entertain at various establishments in the area. She was the life of the party with her mastery of telling complicated, bawdy jokes. Red is survived by her daughters, Judy (Bob) Jochem, Cookie (Chuck) Hartzell, and Jeri (Mark) Raycraft; granddaughters, Christine Doerr, Julie Brink, Autumn Hartzell, Laine Allen, and Lauren Raycraft; and six great-grandchildren. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Hospice and the staff at the Whitcomb for their compassionate care of Red during her final days. “My mind still talks to you. My heart still looks for you. My soul knows you are at peace.”