Murray G. Kemp

Murray G. Kemp, 93, of Dyersburg, died Sunday, July 07, 2013 at Dyersburg Regional Medical Center. He was retired with the City of Dyersburg and a member of Parr Avenue Church of Christ and a WWII Veteran. He grew up in Millsfield. When he was 20, he and a buddy joined the National Guard on Sept. 11, 1940. They left five days later for Fort Jackson, S.C., where they received their training and spent the next three years training new soldiers. His platoon was mobilized in 1940 and sent overseas in 1944 to St. Albans, England, where they stayed for several months until being moved to Southampton, England. They stayed there for five days and went to Normandy on June 14, 1944, eight days after D-Day, June 6, 1944. Back in France, on Feb. 17, 1945, Kemp received a battlefield commission. Over a month later, on March 25, 1945, they crossed the Rhine River into Germany. Soon after, Kemp caught a 20-millimeter bullet in the left side. He was taken to a field hospital for an operation and then on to Paris, where he was made a first lieutenant before being flown to Augusta, Ga., where he stayed in the hospital for the next 18 months, when he retired on Nov. 17, 1946. He went on a 60-day leave before officially retiring on Jan. 17, 1947. He then returned to Dyersburg. For his duty and contributions to his country, Kemp received a combat-infantry badge, the oak leaf cluster Purple Heart, a European Theater ribbon, a good-conduct badge and the Silver Star. Funeral services for Mr. Kemp will be at 11:00 am Wednesday, July 10, 2013 in the Chapel of Curry Funeral Home with Mr. Parks Thurmon and Mr. Scott Owen officiating. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery. Curry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers will be Murray Kemp, Tony Willis, Stacy Pruitt, David Walker, Benny Sipes and Sam Hummer. The Kemp family will receive visitors Tuesday, July 9th from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. He is survived by his son, Murray Allen Kemp of Lawrenceburg, his daughters, Trenna Kemp and Sandy Wilson both of Dyersburg, five grandchildren, Heather Atkins, Allison Hill, Kelsey Kemp, Kelli Kemp, Kirk Kemp and four great-grandchildren, Hailey Atkins, Trey Atkins, Hannah Hill and Hunter Hill. He is preceded in death by his wife Brenda S. Kemp, his parents Guy and Jessie Thomas Kemp, his sister Mattie Dawson and two brothers Charles Kemp and LH Kemp. The family request memorials be directed to Parr Avenue Church of Christ or donor's choice. Online condolences are available on our website- www.curryfuneral.com