Richard Kemp

Obituary Richard Lee "Dick" Kemp of Beaufort, passed away peacefully Sunday, April 15, 2018, at his home. He was 82. He is survived by his daughters, Courtney Kemp Boyd (Hal), of Atlanta, Ga.; Leigh Edana Meredith, of Charlottesville, Va.; grandchildren, Rebecca Kathryn Boyd and Parker Kemp Boyd of Atlanta, Ga.; brother H. George Kemp (Mary Lou) of Princess Anne, Md.; and nieces Suzan Allan Marshall of Richmond, Va. and Nancy Kemp Brimer of Princess Anne, Md. Dick was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Patricia K. Allan Kemp of Beaufort, NC. Dick was born August 27, 1935, to Homer Stanley Kemp and Nancy Lee (Miller) Kemp in Princess Anne, Maryland. There, he grew up in a thriving family nursery business, Bountiful Ridge Nursery. During his childhood, he often took household machines and devices apart only to put them back together again simply to see the details of how they operated. In his adult life, Dick was known for his uncanny ability to quickly fix, or create something to fix, almost anything. Dick graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture where he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. After graduation, Dick served as a medic in the Army for two years. He then returned to Princess Anne to assume a leadership position at Bountiful Ridge. Dick greatly valued his family life, shared with his wife, Pat, and two daughters, Courtney and Leigh. He was extremely loyal and provided what they needed throughout his life. At times this came at a significant personal cost to him, but he did not waiver from his dedication to his word. As personal business endeavors, Dick and Pat saw potential in real estate and "flipped" several properties together. Pat's interior design skills joined with Dick's engineering and landscape knowledge and they transformed properties into desirable investments. This collaboration was rewarding for both of them. In the 1980s, Dick moved to Raleigh, NC, to attend North Carolina State University to earn a Master's in Landscape Architecture. In the 1990s, he reinvented his lifelong experience in the nursery business and his acumen for design and engineering into a design/build landscape architecture business in Morehead City, NC, Crystal Coast Landscapes. Eventually, he sold the successful business in exchange for retirement. In Beaufort, Dick and Pat continued to enjoy an active social life. The Kemps were members of First Presbyterian Church, Morehead City, where Dick served a three-year term as Elder. He also participated as a van driver in the Share and Care group. Along with his wife Pat, the Kemps organized an area couples dinner group. Together, they shared their historic home on BHA Old Homes Tours. Dick prized the camaraderie of the close, small town community of friends and service of area business owners. A graveside service will be held in Beaufort on Monday, May 7, at 2 p.m., at Oceanview Cemetery, Ann St. Extension, followed by a reception at the Kemp residence. The Reverend Timothy Havlicek, Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Morehead City, will lead the graveside service with arrangements through Brooks Funeral Home. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be considered for First Presbyterian Church of Morehead City, NC. &nbspBorn: August 29, 1935&nbspPlace of Birth: Princess Anne, MD&nbspDeath: April 15, 2018&nbspPlace of Death: Beaufort, NC&nbspOccupation: Landscape Architect Graveside Service Monday May 7, 2018 , 2:00 PM at Ocean View Cemetery Share your thoughts and memories in the guestbook. First Presbyterian Church, 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557 Services You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Richard Kemp