Cecil Kemp

Cecil Kemp, 85, of Jackson passed away Monday, Aug. 4, 2014, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Oct. 17, 1928, in Fredericktown, Missouri, to Wiley and Audrey Cloninger Kemp. He and Winnie Davis were married April 27, 1963, in St. Louis.

Cecil was a graduate of William McKinley High School in St. Louis. During his senior year he also attended evening classes at Bailey Tech, studying Diesel engines. After graduation he worked on riverboats in the St. Louis area.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Oct. 22, 1950, serving abroad in Korea. He received an honorable discharge Aug. 17, 1954.

After his military service, he earned an associate degree in air conditioning and refrigeration engineering at Milwaukee School of Engineering. He was hired by Lennox Inc. in 1963, and in 1966 the Kemps moved from St. Louis to Jackson. He continued to work with Lennox as a territory manager, retiring in February 1994 after 30 years of service.

Cecil was a member of CrossRoads Fellowship Church in Jackson, where he previously served on the building committee, the leadership team, and taught the Psalm Group. He was a former member of First Baptist Church in Jackson, where he taught men's Sunday school and served as a deacon.

Loving survivors include his wife of nearly 51 years, Winnie of Jackson; a son, Jeff Kemp of Cape Girardeau; and a brother-in-law, Floyd (Norma) Davis of Advance, Missouri.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with Dr. Brian Anderson officiating. Interment will be in Russell Heights Cemetery with full military honors.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to CrossRoads Fellowship Church.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.