Extracted from The San Bernardino Sun (San Bernardino, CA)
Garland Simon Kemper
We celebrate the life of Garland Simon Kemper, born December 7, 1923, who left this temporary place to enter Heaven, Jan 27, 2018 to join her family, friends and beloved husband, Bill Kemper and oldest son Ray Kemper. She was 94 years young and left behind a lasting imprint. Anyone that knew her could never forget her. She grew up in a tough but loving household in Louisiana; learned the values of hard work, compassion, love and perseverance. The values she acquired were altruistically exhibited when she was stationed overseas with her husband Bill and she helped families escape from behind the Iron Curtain in Yugoslavia when Tito was the Ruler. She aided many families to independence and positively changed the course of many lives. Some of those families still corresponded with her until recently to express their gratefulness.
Garland Simon Kemper also left quite an impression as an athlete and basketball Coach. She excelled in both and most folks knew how much she absolutely loved the Los Angeles Lakers. She always set aside time to watch the games and her immediate family came to call Garland and her sisters the “Lakers girls”. After every game, the sisters would call each other and discuss each play. And 16 times the Lakers were NBA Champions so there was plenty of celebration and cheer. She had a zest and spirit towards the things she loved including her family, the Lakers and business.
Garland raised 3 wonderful children, Ray, Kay and Ron Kemper and instilled in them the values she learned growing up, small but fierce, she was a very successful Real Estate Broker and overcame much adversity early on to become the family matriarch. Being the independent person she was, Garland Simon Kemper still handled all of her business transactions up until death. She even drove her automobile and did most things on her own into her 90's. She was blessed with good health and longevity of life. May the rest of us be as fortunate.
She was a unique individual that lived by the beat of her own drum and her fighting spirit is carried on by her sister Doris Guzman, 2 surviving children, Kay Kemper Floyd and Ron Kemper, 7 grandchildren by blood and love, Chesty and Dan Kemper, Ric and Chad Wilshire, Amber Ramirez, Shauna Moser, Creed and Shamus Stone, her 13 great grandchildren, Dakota and Dalton Wilshire, Benjamin, Isabel, Nico and Mateo Wilshire, Sophie and Noah Kemper, Tad, Jessii and Trevin Moser, Cash and Rossi Stone, her loving in-laws, Sun Hwa Kemper, Jonna Kee Kemper, Clara Wilshire, Kristin Schnepp Wilshire, Andrea Kemper Erika Stone, Abby Stone, and many more friends and family too numerous to list but not forgotten.
Our time here on Earth is just a temporary transition point. It's here we remember a wonderful life transcending to the next one as we are left behind to try and master the best versions of ourselves before we are also called to follow. What a phenomenal trail blazer to pursue. We love you Garland Simon Kemper. Until we meet again.
Services will be grave side at Riverside Veterans National Cemetery on 2/21/2018 at 2:00 PM.
Friday, February 16, 2018