Cherry Kempe

KEMPE, Cherry Natalie, 83, passed away Thursday, November 21, 2013 in Jenks, OK. She was born at home in West Tulsa, OK on June 20, 1930 to John Monroe and Ruth May McDonald. She moved with her family to Bremerton, WS in 1938, and graduated from Bremerton High, returning to Tulsa in 1951, Cherry moved to be with her sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and Warren Patton to help raise her niece, Paula, and nephew, Jeff. Cherry married her husband, Walter (Dub), an osteopathic physician, June 21, 1959 and they were fortunate to celebrate 54 years together. She worked in Walter?s medical office, The Southwest Clinic, until her daughter, Paula Marie?s birth in 1960. Serving as PTA President at Webster High School, Clinton Jr. High and Remington Elementary, and working with the Campfire Organization. Cherry also served as Republican Precinct Chairman. Cherry became a professional registered parliamentarian and worked as State Chairman for the National Association of Parliamentarians. Another accomplishment, that made her feel good, was serving on the Tulsa Metro Area Planning Commission from 1978-1990, and being Chairman in 1983, ?85, and ?88, working on commissions and in revising the Tulsa City Charter. She served as Presidents of Tulsa District Osteopathic Society, OK State Osteopathic Auxiliary, and was parliamentarian for the Board of the National Osteopathic Auxiliary. She and Marlene Galusha initiated and coordinated Tulsa District Osteopathic Auxiliary Winter Set Ball, an annual event held since that time. Also Cherry attended Tulsa Junior College on several occasions. Cherry was very artistic; painting, singing with Tulsa?s Sweet Adeline?s, performed in The Drunkard as Little Mary and acted at Tulsa Little Theater. She had many friends, who she adopted as family, like her pal, Joan Blankenship, with whom she worked on many parliamentary concerts, and was much loved and respected by her daughter?s friends. Cherry loved her family including pets, Albert, Beaumont, and Charlie; grandpets, Sammie and Wallie, and her husband?s family. Cherry had strong and definite opinions and the last part of her life was referred to as ?Sweet and Fiesty?. She tried to help the people around her to have a better life and took very tender care of her daughter, Paula, for many years. Cherry took time and effort to make Tulsa and her community a better place to live. Cherry was preceded in death by sister, Shirley Patton; mother and father, Ruth and John McDonald. She is survived by husband, Walter F. Kempe; daughter, Paula Marie Kempe, nephew, Jeff and Stephanie Patton, all of Tulsa; nieces, Paula and Gene Reynolds of Newalla, OK, Laura and Michael Arbetello and their son, Adam of Yukon, OK, and sister, Dona and Rufus Colquhoun of Reno, NV. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Osteopathic Founders Foundation, 8801S. Yale, #400, Tulsa, OK 74137 or a charity of your choice. Visitation will be 3-4 P.M., Sunday, November 24, 2013 at Moore?s Southlawn. Service will be 11:00 A.M., Monday, November 25, 2013 at Moore?s Southlawn Chapel. Moore?s Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com

Cherry Kempe

June 20, 1930 - November 21, 2013