Dorothy Arphelia Flanders Kemper

Dorothy Arphelia Flanders Kemper, age 91, formerly of Mt. Vernon, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, July 31, 2013. She was born in Compass Lake, Fla. on March 2, 1922 to Floyd and Cassie (Hall) Flanders. One of eleven children, Dorothy was raised near Altha, Fla., and enjoyed telling of her years in Calhoun County. After she graduated from Frink High School, she moved to Panama City to work at the Dixie-Sherman Hotel and later as a pulp tester at a lumber yard, and then a pipefitter for Wainwright Shipyard as part of the war effort. With five of her brothers serving in military service during World War ll, Dorothy decided to join the United States Navy WAVES. She took her first train ride from Panama City to New Orleans for enlistment on December 3, 1943 obtaining her basics at the U.S. Naval Training School in Bronx, N.Y. and was sent to NAS, Atlanta, Ga. where she was a striker in the medical dispensary. She then received her nursing training at Hospital Corps School in Bethesda, Md. and was eventually stationed at the U.S. Naval Hospital at Parris Island, S.C. It was here that she met the love of her life, a handsome United States Marine, named Harvey J. Kemper. After the war ended and she had fulfilled her enlistment obligations, she and Harvey were married in Pensacola, Fla. where he was stationed. She and their two children accompanied him during his 20 years of service in the US Marine Corps to several east coast stations including Key West, Fla., Camp Lejeune, N.C., Panama City, Fla., Albany, Ga., and Tallahassee, Fla. She was a telephone switchboard operator for several of those years. After MSgt Kemper retired from the Marines, they moved their family to a small farm in Mt. Vernon, Ark. and another child was born soon after. During these past 50 plus years, Dorothy enjoyed some years as a stay at home Mom, followed by several years working for the state of Arkansas as a Vocational Teacher for Petit Jean Votech in affiliation with Arkansas Children's Colony in Conway and later joined Mt. Vernon School's lunchroom staff. She enjoyed flower gardening, sewing, and especially making clowns for which she was known in the community, and which she donated generously to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. and Children's Hospital in Little Rock. She served on the Parent Teacher Association committee at Mt. Vernon, and enjoyed the many friends of her children, and was famous for putting together a hearty meal for several on a moment's notice. Her cathead biscuits were acclaimed among family and friends, and it was a joy to her to see a gathering around her supper table. Dorothy was particularly proud of her children, grandchildren, and their families, and loved them dearly as she did her friends, her community, her country, and her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Until recent days, she worshiped regularly with the congregation of believers at El Paso First Baptist Church where she enjoyed many beautiful years of fellowship with these who were especially near and dear to her heart. She is preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Cassie (Hall) Flanders, ten brothers and sisters, and son-in-law, Alton Arnold. Dorothy is survived by her beloved husband of 67 years, Harvey; their children, Dolores (Gary) Littrell of Searcy, Gregory H. (Debbie) Kemper of Searcy, and Leona "Lea" (Ricky) Kemper-Cash of Quitman; her sister, Juanita Chance of Marianna, Fla.; Eleven grandchildren, Jesse (Jennifer) Arnold, Michael (Courtney) Arnold, Matthew Arnold, Joseph (Shea) Arnold, Lance (Heather) Kemper, Daniel (Haley) Kemper, Jill (Kasey) Jones, Amy (Justin) Cowart, Daren Cash, Bryan Cash, and Brandon Cash, many beloved great grandchildren, as well as a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and so many other family members and friends. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m., Thursday, August 1, 2013 at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, and funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Friday, August 2, 2013 at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church followed by interment at Oliver Cemetery in the Red Hill community with Larry Grubbs officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oliver Cemetery Trust, 129 Shawn Terrace, Searcy, Ark. 72143 or to El Paso First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 74, El Paso, Ark. 72045.