Patricia Ruth Kemp

Nov. 6, 1927 - Sept. 30, 2007

Patricia Kemp died peacefully Sunday morning in her home at Stoneybrook in Corvallis, surrounded by her loving family, after a quick but brave struggle with cancer.

Pat was born in New Jersey, the only child of James Arnold and Ruth Pulsford. Shortly after graduating from high school, she met the love of her life, Robert Kemp, at a church youth group meeting. Bob's oldest brother, Larry, takes credit for introducing them, although if you heard Pat tell it, she didn't like Bob very much when she first met him. But Bob persevered, won her over, and they were married on Aug. 28, 1948. She worked while Bob attended Johns Hopkins University and told everyone who would listen that she got her degree - a PHT (putting hubby through) at the same time Bob got his degree.

Bob was in sales, and as the wife of a salesman, Pat moved many times throughout her years of marriage, raising two daughters, entertaining Bob's clients and their wives, chauffeuring girls to and from sporting events and drama practice, being a Girl Scout leader and even managing to have a brief career in real estate between moves. One could always find her children's friends hanging out at her house, as Pat always served as a second mother, cheerleader and confidant to her children's friends as well.

Pat had a great love of animals, and there was never a time in her life when she didn't have a cat or a dog. As she approached her golden years, she became involved in training dogs. She taught obedience classes and would take her beloved "Lucy" to obedience competitions, winning many awards in obedience with her. She and Bob also trained their dogs to be companion dogs, and brought many hours of joy to senior citizens in nursing homes in their community in Florida.

Wanting to be closer to her daughter, four years ago Pat convinced Bob to trade their sunny, warm life in Florida for a new adventure in Oregon; and so to Corvallis they came, enjoying the closeness of children and grandchildren for the first time in many years.

Pat is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Bob; daughter Cindy and her husband, Scott, and daughter, Heidi; grandchildren, Chris and his wife, Emily, Beth and her husband, Spencer, Sara and her fiance, Mike, Siobhan, and Azure; great-grandchildren Greta, Nolan, Harrison and Melena and well as her "best dog ever," Sasha.

Arrangements are being handled by McHenry Funeral Home. A memorial service celebrating Pat's life for family and close friends will be at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 2, in the Chapel of the Church of the Good Samaritan. Remembrances can be made in her honor to Old Mill Center for Children and Families or Benton County Hospice in care of McHenry Funeral Home. Online condolences may be extended at: www.mchenryfu

neralhome.com.