Harfon Kemp Obituary

Harfon Kemp, born on October 3, 1934, in Iuka, Mississippi. He went home to be with his Lord on March 23, 2025. His grandparents, Jack and Loney Bell Kemp, raised Harfon as their own. After high school, he served in the Army during the Korean War and received an honorable discharge after faithfully serving his country. He used his G.I. Bill to get a college education. Harfon worked for a short time at a cottage cheese factory in Indiana but didn't like the Northern winter, so he returned to Iuka. For most of his professional life, he worked in retail management, managing department stores for a variety of companies, eventually being promoted to District Manager. He met and married Helen Houze in Lanette, Alabama and adopted her two children, Barbara (Babs) and Bobby (Bob). Harfon and Helen were married for 51 years. He also had a son, Gary, from a previous marriage.
Harfon's retail career caused him to relocate his family several times, transferring from Alabama to Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, and eventually back to Texas where they settled down and stayed. Harfon left retail management in 1971 and bought his first of five Dunkin Donuts franchises. He later sold them all and bought a Minuteman Press franchise which he owned and operated for about 17 years. Between the sale of his last Dunkin Donuts franchise and opening the print shop in Mesquite, Texas, Harfon bought a mobile donut shop (a converted step-side van) and baked and sold donuts at Canton's First Monday Flea Market. He later expanded to sell Blue Bell ice cream. He and Helen retired from the printing business in 1998, bought 56 acres in Henderson County near Athens, built a log cabin home, and lived there until 2012 when they moved to Tyler. Helen died in 2014. He married Linda Dodson-Carey in 2016, and they lived together until his death.
Harfon loved his family and sacrificed much to give them the material things he didn't have growing up. He always looked forward to family get-togethers with childlike anticipation. He also loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He served as an elder at First Christian Church in Athens and later in Tyler.
Harfon was a huge Dallas Cowboys fan and season ticket holder for many years, following the franchise from the beginning. He also enjoyed playing golf, bowling, ping-pong, billiards, motorcycling, playing different variations of dominoes, board games, cooking, traveling, woodworking, and gardening which included planting vegetable gardens. He owned and loved many dogs in his lifetime but had a special fondness for Norwegian Elkhounds.
Harfon is preceded in death by his grandparents, Jack and Loney Bell Kemp, his brother Reverend Thomas Kemp, sister-in-law Ruth Kemp, sister Martha Kemp-Grant, brother-in-law Johnny Grant, and son Gary Kemp.
He is survived by his son, Minister Bob Kemp, wife Patricia, daughter Barbara Kemp-Halada, son-in-law Richard, daughter-in-law Beverly Kemp, brother Ray Puckett, sister Frances West, niece Renee Grant-Prescott, husband Dan, grandchildren Elizabeth Vitale, Matthew Kemp, John Halada, Christopher, Lance, and Dallas Kemp, Jessica, Lily and Ella Height, and great-grandchildren Spencer, Lucas, Orion, Eliott, Bailey, and Levi.
Memorial services for Harfon will be held on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at First Christian Church in Tyler with Dr. Chris Pulliam officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Visitation is scheduled one hour prior to service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Christian Church Memorial Fund, 4202 S. Broadway, Tyler, TX 75701.