Anna Louise Kemplin

Anna Louise Harris Kemplin, 81, died at her home in Valley View on Thursday, January 22, 2015. Funeral services will be held at the Valley View Church of Christ at 2:30 PM Saturday, January 24, 2015 with David Kilpatrick and Kenneth Sebrun officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery.

Although her parents, L.D. (Buster) Harris and Lena Floyse Bays Harris, lived in Valley View, Mrs. Kemplin was born in Marietta, Oklahoma, in her maternal grandparents’ home on May 16, 1933, while her mother was visiting.

At the age of twelve, Mrs. Kemplin began delivering the Gainesville Daily Register in Valley View, then worked at Miller’s Drugstore, was an usher at the State Theater in Gainesville, and briefly worked at the Valley View National Bank. Graduating as the valedictorian of the Valley View High School class of 1950, she attended Midwestern in Wichita Falls on a music scholarship and also worked in the registrar’s office. At the age of 19 she graduated with a bachelor’s in education and was hired to teach at Reinhardt Elementary in Dallas ISD. She began graduate work at Texas Woman’s University and later completed a master’s in education at North Texas State University.

She married Carl R. Kemplin of Valley View in the Valley View Church of Christ on August 6, 1954. She taught in Gainesville at Benjamin Franklin Elementary before she resigned to begin her family. After her children were in school, she returned to teach first grade at Sanger Elementary for fifteen years, and then taught at Valley View Elementary until retirement. Each child was special to her, and she reveled in watching them learn. She firmly believed what her father had told her many times, namely that “education was one thing no one could ever take away from you.”
Mrs. Kemplin had begun teaching Bible classes while still in high school, and she continued teaching both children’s and ladies’ classes for years. She was a good cook, an accomplished and creative seamstress, made hats, painted, and loved to crochet and quilt. For years Mrs. Kemplin sang solos, duets, and in groups for area weddings, funerals, graduations, and other events. She also served on the NCTC Board of Regents as well as on the Foundation Development Board.

Ann Kemplin is survived by her husband of sixty years, Carl Kemplin; her son Kevin Kemplin of Sanger; her daughter Carolyn Kilpatrick and husband David of Valley View; grandsons John, Thomas, and Andrew Kilpatrick of Valley View; granddaughter Crissy Kilpatrick of Gainesville; two brothers-in-law: John Kemplin of Fort Worth and Milton Pogue of Liberty Hill; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her son Mark Kemplin; her brother Michael Harris; and her parents.

The family appreciates the wonderful care provided by Cooke County Home Hospice as well as the kind words and deeds of friends and family.