Melissa Kemp

Melissa Kemp, 50, of Batesville died Wednesday, June 25, 2014 in her family home after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. She was born June 16, 1964, in Springfield, Mo., the daughter of James and Robbie Kemp. She was a lifelong resident of Desha, graduating from Desha High School in 1982. She received an associate's degree from Gateway Vocational Technical School and worked for the USDA Rural Development office for 27 years. She was a life long member of the Southside Church of Christ. Melissa enjoyed classic country music and regularly attended concerts in neighboring states to hear artists such as Gene Watson, Merle Haggard and Mickey Gilley. She was also an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves baseball team as well as a die-­‐hard NASCAR fan, most notably of drivers Rusty Wallace and Jimmie Johnson. In recent years, Melissa began traveling with her mother and enjoyed memorable trips to New York City and Canada. She was a doting aunt to her two nieces and a constant companion of her mother following her father's death in 2010. Survivors include her mother, Robbie, of Desha; a brother and sister‐in‐law, Mike and Crystal Kemp of Conway; and two nieces, Katie Kemp and Sarah Kemp of Conway. Melissa was preceded in death by her father. Graveside services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at the Marcella Cemetery with Bob Harris officiating. Pallbearers will be Jerry Bowen, Glen McMullin, Gary Hardin, Bill Coles, Lavaughn Coles and Robert Foster, with Dwayne and Paula Millikin, Johnny Knabe, Rickey Carter and Sam Beasley serving as honorary pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Melissa's memory to Children's Homes, Inc. of Paragould.