Randy Kemp

Randy Kemp, 55, departed from his earthly home on Sunday, August 14, 2011. He was enjoying one of his favorite activities, navigating the rural highways of Arkansas on his latest motorcycle. He was born March 27, 1956 in Marcella, Ark., to Jim Mosie and Margurette McDonald Kemp. He is survived by his wife of more than 35 years, Peggy Gardner Kemp, of Conway; two sisters, Helen Massey of Aurora, Mo. and Betty Bailey of Marcella; sons David Kemp of Conway and Jeremy Kemp of Auckland, New Zealand; two daughters-in-law, Charity Kemp of Conway and Leslie Kemp of Auckland, New Zealand; and one grandson, Corin Kemp. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, James Kemp of Desha. He was a 1974 graduate of Mountain View High School. A lifelong journalist, Randy was an accomplished writer and photographer. A 1978 graduate of Harding University, he began his career at the Searcy Daily Citizen. He moved up the ranks from reporter and photographer to city editor and news room supervisor. After that, he took over as editor at the Heber Springs Sun-Times, and later was named editor and publisher. Most recently, he served as director of communications for the Association of Arkansas Counties. Randy was well known through associations he made during his career covering the politics of the north central Arkansas counties. His latest job introduced him into a new political realm, giving him a chance to take part in the inner workings of state government. He also served as a mentor to other young journalists who began their careers in newsrooms in Searcy and Heber Springs. He was an avid outdoorsman, taking pride in the number of squirrels he sent to their maker with a single shot .22 as a teen in the woods near his rural Stone County home. He also enjoyed fishing, but his favorite activity was riding motorcycles. He was an accomplished rider who routinely marked off routes on tattered maps with his highlighter after riding for hours on end. Recently, a more special activity has been spending time with his grandson, Corin, either in visits to the Kemp home in New Zealand or by video chats via the Internet. He had a special bond with his grandson, often taking the computer to the garage to show Corin his motorcycle at the youngster's request. A visitation service is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Friday, August 19, at Roller McNutt Funeral Home, 801 8th Avenue in Conway, with a memorial service to be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, August 20, at Fellowship Bible Church, 1401 Kirk Road in Little Rock.