John Raymond Kemple

     John Raymond Kemple was born on June 4, 1907 in Salt Lake City, Utah. His parents are John Orson Kemple and Kate Mae Connelly. He was called Raymond throughout his life. It is not known what took the Kemple Family to Salt Lake City for Raymond's birth, but was probably because his father, John Orson Kemple had health problems and was seeing a doctor there, and like the attention and service he received.

     There is not much information about Raymond's early childhood, but the Kemple family was known to have lived in Los Angeles, California, and at the Yellow Pine Mine, and Goodsprings, Nevada. Raymond started school as a 1^st grade student at the Goodsprings school. The Kemple's were living at Yellow Pine Mine at the time, but there weren't enough children of school age to have a school at the mine. The school district wouldn't provide a school unless there were at least six children. There were only five. A year or two later, there were six children living at the mine, and a Yellow Pine School was constructed. Raymond attended the Yellow Pine School. While at Goodsprings and Yellow Pine Schools, he consistently got almost straight A's on his report card.

     As a yond boy, Raymond, and his brother, Clifford, were given a 22 rifle by their father. The boys spent many hours hunting small game in the hills around the Yellow Pine. He frequently shot rabbits and other small animals.

     The Kemple family moved to Los Angeles, and Raymond attended the Graham Grammar School. He graduated from the 8^th grade as valedictorian student, and participated in the graduation ceremony by giving a speech. He chose the life of Luther Burbank as his topic.

     Raymond attended the Compton High School from September to December after graduation from grammar school. The family moved to Goodsprings again and that ended his formal education.

     Raymond worked around the mines at Goodsprings, and later got a job as a mechanic for the Studebaker car dealer in Las Vegas. It was during this time that he met Mabel, who would become his wife. Raymond went to the Whitney home in Goodsprings one evening to tell Bert about a railroad car that needed to be loaded down at Jean, and Leon, Mabel's brother, was trying to teach her to play poker. Mabel was struggling with the game and Raymond watched them play. Leon told Mabel that Raymond was the kind of man she should tie up with. Although Mabel didn't thing too much of it at the time, it was only a short while later when they started going together and became sweethearts. They were married on July 25, 1930. Over the next twenty five years they become the parents of eight sons.

     In the early 1940's, Raymond moved his family to St. George, Utah to live. He wanted his boys to be able to grow up within the environment of the Church, and associate with other boys and girls who had the same religious beliefs. After a short period back at Goodsprings, the Kemple family moved to St. George for good.

     Raymond worked at the Apex mine for Emerald Cox, and later leased the mine and ran it himself. Other mines he worked in Southern Utah were the Black Warrior, which was in the "West Mountain" area, and osme uranium mine claims near Leeds. Raymond also worked as an outo mechanic at St. George Service, at Bob's Garage, and in his won service shop which was located on 500 West in St. George. When the garage didn't work out, he converted it into a small house for his mother, Kate Mae Connelly Kemple.

     Raymond joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, after they were married, and raised his family in the Church. He believed strongly the principle of eternal families. He was impressed that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was the only religion which taught that principle as true doctrine. Raymond and Mabel were sealed in the St. George Temple on January 1, 1936. Raymond served in many positions including Presiding Elder of Goodsprings Branch, Scoutmaster, Ward clerk, Stake Missionary, Priesthood Advisor, Sunday School Superintendant and President of the 29th quorum of the Seventy.

     In 1955 Raymond accepted a position with Raymond Carr to supervise a mining operation called the "Jupiter" mine. It was located on the west side of the Sandy Valley, in San Bernardino County, California. It was there that he died.

     Raymond died on March 12, 1956 at the age of 49, and was buried in St. George Cemetery on March 15, 196. He was noted as being a hard worker, a loving husband, a kind and loving father, a faithful member of his Church, and a friend to all who come in contact with him.

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