Max Frederick Kemp was born on Nov. 27, 1925, in Enid and passed away on Dec. 23, 2005, at the age of 80. He and Myra Marie Hunt of Kingfisher were married on Sept. 16, 1951, and shared a wonderful life together.
Max was a true cowboy. As a young boy, he dreamed of someday having his own horse to ride with big brother Monte. He followed his dreams and purchased land north of Bristow in 1959 that he made into a horse and cattle ranch. He also loved to hunt and fish with his dad during his childhood and continued to do so at every opportunity throughout his life. Max never really quit playing "Cowboys & Indians." He gained immense knowledge of the Old West and could recite detailed history of lawmen, outlaws, wranglers and Indian lore as he traveled across the country. Family vacations took forever to drive anywhere since the six of them always had to stop at every historical marker they encountered. He could have been a famous Old West tour guide, but instead he followed his dad's footsteps to become a caring pharmacist. He called himself a drugstore cowboy. Max owned Kemp Drug in Bristow for 40 years after his dad opened the business in 1939. It was a successful business, mainly because Max knew how to provide good customer service. He would make home deliveries of medicine to anyone in need, whether day or night, rain or shine, weekends or holidays, near or far. Max never learned how to say the word "no" if someone was in need. He was a compassionate Christian family man who loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His kind and generous ways were living proof of his beliefs.
Max had an adventurous life with too many great stories to tell in one sitting. For instance, he liked to recall his float trip down the entire Illinois River with John Roy Dunaway back in the 1940s when it was still primitive and had fallen trees blocking their way. He hitchhiked to Oregon to work in a logging camp with Richard Beaubien while still in high school. He worked on a pipeline in Missouri with J.C. Hutson. Max was known as "Skinny Doogan" in those days. He went off to college at OU but left after a year to enlist in the Air Force during World War II. He returned to OU and graduated in 1949 after his days in Beta Theta Pi fraternity. There were too many hunting and fishing trips with friends and family to the Colorado high country and beyond to tell about. Max loved to tell stories, and they always seemed to have a hilarious ending.
In 1955 Max and Myra moved back to Bristow to join his father in the operation of Kemp Drug Store. Max always desired to promote the community of Bristow and provide a nice place to shop and socialize on Main Street. Max, Myra and family are proud of his service to the community. Among his many good deeds include his service as president of the Bristow Chamber of Commerce, president of Bristow Rotary International Club, member of the Bristow Public Schools Board of Education, elder of Bristow Presbyterian Church and scout master of Boy Scouts of America, receiving the Order of the Arrow.
Max loved his family so much. He was preceded in death by his parents Russell and Frances and firstborn child Constance. He is survived by his loving wife Myra; four children, Nanetta Wampler and husband Bob of Arnold, Mo., Susan Washa and husband Dale of Oklahoma City; Ben Kemp and wife Sandy of Bristow, and Jennifer Lupp and husband K.C. of Bristow; thirteen grandchilden, Sarah, Hilary, Katie, Allison, Scott and wife Susan, Emily, Brian, Zac and wife Leslie, Josh, Anna, Faith, Patrick and Jackson; three great-grandchildren, Charlie, Gracey and Kemp; brother Monte Kemp and wife Ann of Bartlesville; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service to celebrate Max's life will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005 at 2 p.m. at the Bristow Presbyterian Church at Sixth Street and Elm.
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