Lawrence Jay (Larry) Kemper

Lawrence Jay (Larry) Kemper, 65, of Nevada, Mo., passed away Sunday, June 22, 2014, at Christian Healthcare and Rehab, in Nevada. He was born Jan. 23, 1949, in Cheyenne, Wyo., the son of Kermit Lawrence and Gladys Gertrude (West) Kemper.

When Larry was five years old, the family moved to Missouri, settling in the Schell City and Walker area. Larry attended school in Schell City until the fourth grade, then finished grades five through 12 in Walker, where he graduated with the Class of 1967. After one year of college he began employment with the Missouri State Highway Department, where he worked until his retirement in 2000. Though retired, he continued to work summers until 2012.

In 1969, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Ann Gerster and to their union two children were born. Larry's hobbles Included a love of hunting and fishing, and spending as much time in the out-of-doors as possible, especially in the timber.

The loves of his life included spending time with his family where he could be found attending the grandchildren's sporting events and simply watching them grow up. In recent years, he and Beth had attended the First Baptist Church. In past years he had been involved in the bus ministry in conjunction with the Calvary Baptist Church as well as the bus ministry at Pine Street Baptist Church, where he also served as Deacon.

Survivors include his wife, Beth, of the home in Nevada; one daughter, Michelle Cox and her husband, Jerry, of Nevada; one son, Michael Kemper and his wife, Willa, of Denton, Texas; one sister, Roberta (Bobbie) Barbour and her husband, Kenny, of Walker; five grandchildren, Amber Vance and her husband, Sean, Christopher Enriquez, Renee Cox, Rebecca Cox, and Cordell Cox; one great-grandson, Tanner Vance; and nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.

Funeral services for Lawrence Jay (Larry) Kemper are scheduled for 3 p.m., Wednesday, June 25, at the First Baptist Church, in Nevada, with the Rev. Robert Burk officiating, A visitation will be held from 2 to 3 p.m., just prior to the service also at the church. Interment will follow the service in the Green Mound Cemetery, in Harwood, Mo.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations in Larry's honor to the Baptist Hill Assembly, in Mt. Vemon, or the Green Mound Cemetery, in Harwood, in care of the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home.