Wayne Ray Kemp
January 8, 1948 — March 31, 2023
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Wayne Ray Kemp
Wayne Ray Kemp, 75, passed away on March 31, 2023, with his daughter at his side, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.
Wayne was born on January 8, 1948 in Murray, Utah to Carol Jensen Kemp and Douglas John Kemp. He grew up in Sandy, Utah, an identical twin, and the fifth of seven siblings. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Colleen, and brothers Jerry, Bob and Tom.
Wayne’s childhood home sat where the new Jordan High School “J” monument now stands. It was a modest home for a family of nine, and Wayne shared the root cellar with dirt floors for a bedroom with his four brothers. He attended Jordan High School and graduated in 1966. He joined the Navy shortly thereafter in 1967, at the age of 19.
Wayne’s greatest pride was his military service. Serving in the Vietnam War, he was assigned to the USS Oriskany aircraft carrier from February 1967 to May 1968. His ship was stationed in the South China Sea, only miles from the Vietnam shore. While on the Oriskany, he served as a plane captain and took care of F-8 Crusader jets. He spent many hours on the flight deck ensuring the jets were in top shape for launching, landing and battle. Wayne had many fond memories and stories serving on the flight deck. In May of 1968, he was reassigned to the USS Bryce Canyon where he joined his twin brother, Blaine. He was stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii and served from May 1968 to November 1970. While on the Bryce Canyon, Wayne worked in the mess hall for the first three months on the ship. Shortly thereafter, he was assigned as a mechanic to the drone anti-submarine helicopter. He enjoyed his time in Hawaii and serving alongside his brother. While in Hawaii, he met his daughter’s mother. They married in Hawaii and moved to Utah.
Wayne worked for the Salt Lake City Corporation for 30 years. He started as a security guard at the Hall of Justice. Later, he moved to the Water Department. Beginning in Watershed, he patrolled the Wasatch mountains to keep the water safe from threats to Salt Lake County’s drinking water. In 1982, he transferred to Water Distribution. As a telemetry operator, he ensured the distribution of 300 million gallons of water everyday all along the Wasatch front.
In 1990, Wayne re-enlisted in the Naval Reserves. One year after re-enlisting, Operation Desert Storm began in the Middle East, now commonly known as the Gulf War. He was deployed as a Naval CB and assigned to the Sets Kits & Outfits Division in Port Hueneme Bay, California. After the conflict of that war, Wayne was released from active duty and resumed reserve status until he was honorably discharged in 1993. He retired from Salt Lake City Corporation in 2003.
Wayne is survived by his daughter, Melodie (Al) Tolentino, sister Dody (Mike) Caldwell and twin brother Blaine (Carrie) Kemp. Wayne loved his family very much. His greatest joy was spending time with his daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, Mia, AJ, Nicolas and Erika. He loved lunches with his lifelong best friend and twin brother, Blaine. Together they enjoyed oldies music trivia, fishing, camping, and boating. When he couldn’t be with them, they spoke on the phone daily. Coming from a large family, Wayne also enjoyed spending time with his many nieces and nephews. Things we will miss the most are his jocularity, oldies music quizzes, birthday song serenades, and loving hugs.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Ashford Assisted Living & Memory Care in Draper and Canyon Home Care & Hospice for their love, patience and compassionate care. Wayne made quite an impression on them, and he will be missed by everyone who cared for him.
Wayne’s viewing is on April 7, 2023 from 6-8 pm at Anderson & Goff Mortuary, 11859 South 700 East in Draper, Utah. His funeral service will be held on April 8, 2023 from 11 am-12 pm at Anderson & Goff Mortuary, followed by interment at Sandy City Cemetery, 700 East 9000 South, Sandy, Utah. The service will be livestreamed on the Anderson & Goff Mortuary Facebook Page at the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Funeral-Service---Cemetery/Anderson-Goff-Mortuary-293949407707203/
(The livestream video will appear when the service starts.)
Wayne was born on January 8, 1948 in Murray, Utah to Carol Jensen Kemp and Douglas John Kemp. He grew up in Sandy, Utah, an identical twin, and the fifth of seven siblings. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Colleen, and brothers Jerry, Bob and Tom.
Wayne’s childhood home sat where the new Jordan High School “J” monument now stands. It was a modest home for a family of nine, and Wayne shared the root cellar with dirt floors for a bedroom with his four brothers. He attended Jordan High School and graduated in 1966. He joined the Navy shortly thereafter in 1967, at the age of 19.
Wayne’s greatest pride was his military service. Serving in the Vietnam War, he was assigned to the USS Oriskany aircraft carrier from February 1967 to May 1968. His ship was stationed in the South China Sea, only miles from the Vietnam shore. While on the Oriskany, he served as a plane captain and took care of F-8 Crusader jets. He spent many hours on the flight deck ensuring the jets were in top shape for launching, landing and battle. Wayne had many fond memories and stories serving on the flight deck. In May of 1968, he was reassigned to the USS Bryce Canyon where he joined his twin brother, Blaine. He was stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii and served from May 1968 to November 1970. While on the Bryce Canyon, Wayne worked in the mess hall for the first three months on the ship. Shortly thereafter, he was assigned as a mechanic to the drone anti-submarine helicopter. He enjoyed his time in Hawaii and serving alongside his brother. While in Hawaii, he met his daughter’s mother. They married in Hawaii and moved to Utah.
Wayne worked for the Salt Lake City Corporation for 30 years. He started as a security guard at the Hall of Justice. Later, he moved to the Water Department. Beginning in Watershed, he patrolled the Wasatch mountains to keep the water safe from threats to Salt Lake County’s drinking water. In 1982, he transferred to Water Distribution. As a telemetry operator, he ensured the distribution of 300 million gallons of water everyday all along the Wasatch front.
In 1990, Wayne re-enlisted in the Naval Reserves. One year after re-enlisting, Operation Desert Storm began in the Middle East, now commonly known as the Gulf War. He was deployed as a Naval CB and assigned to the Sets Kits & Outfits Division in Port Hueneme Bay, California. After the conflict of that war, Wayne was released from active duty and resumed reserve status until he was honorably discharged in 1993. He retired from Salt Lake City Corporation in 2003.
Wayne is survived by his daughter, Melodie (Al) Tolentino, sister Dody (Mike) Caldwell and twin brother Blaine (Carrie) Kemp. Wayne loved his family very much. His greatest joy was spending time with his daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, Mia, AJ, Nicolas and Erika. He loved lunches with his lifelong best friend and twin brother, Blaine. Together they enjoyed oldies music trivia, fishing, camping, and boating. When he couldn’t be with them, they spoke on the phone daily. Coming from a large family, Wayne also enjoyed spending time with his many nieces and nephews. Things we will miss the most are his jocularity, oldies music quizzes, birthday song serenades, and loving hugs.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Ashford Assisted Living & Memory Care in Draper and Canyon Home Care & Hospice for their love, patience and compassionate care. Wayne made quite an impression on them, and he will be missed by everyone who cared for him.
Wayne’s viewing is on April 7, 2023 from 6-8 pm at Anderson & Goff Mortuary, 11859 South 700 East in Draper, Utah. His funeral service will be held on April 8, 2023 from 11 am-12 pm at Anderson & Goff Mortuary, followed by interment at Sandy City Cemetery, 700 East 9000 South, Sandy, Utah. The service will be livestreamed on the Anderson & Goff Mortuary Facebook Page at the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Funeral-Service---Cemetery/Anderson-Goff-Mortuary-293949407707203/
(The livestream video will appear when the service starts.)
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Friday, April 7, 2023
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