A
pillar of the Parker County community died
September 3rd at 91 years of age, but she’ll not soon
be forgotten. Her community spirit and boundless passion
for local history cemented her place in hearts and minds
in Parker County history.
Mary Estelle Kemp spent nearly a century in Parker
County, and during her sojourn here she never shied
away from the kind of hard work that makes a difference,
changes a place for the good. Often referred to as “The
Historian of Parker County,” the retired business owner
served on the Parker County Historical Commission and
was instrumental in the 1986 courthouse restoration.
She wrote numerous books on county history and with
lifelong friend Leon Tanner, created Nebo Valley Press.
She was a founding member of the Abandoned Cemetery
Association of Parker County. And then there’s the
38-year run of the Shaw-Kemp Open House held each
spring among Kemp’s beloved bluebonnets on family
property a dozen miles south of Weatherford in Nebo
Valley. She even had a day named for her: Monday,
March 23, 2015, was proclaimed “Mary Kemp Day” in
Parker County. Kemp was a busy lady.
Born July 19, 1927, in the Baker Community south
of the county seat to Everett and Lottie (Howell) Carnes,
Kemp grew up in the Nebo Valley area and graduated
from Weatherford High School in 1944. In 1945 she
married V.E. Kemp, Jr., and together they had two chil-
dren: daughter Judy V. and son Rusty V., three years
apart. “V”, as her husband was known, died in 1998.
Kemp had five grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and
one great-great-grandchild.
As a younger woman, Kemp spent 18 years working
for the Weatherford Superintendent of Schools. In April
1958, V. Kemp and Tex Jones formed Texas Butane, a
bedrock business on the square still going strong after 60
years. After Jones fell ill in the early 1960s, the Kemps
became sole proprietors. Kemp worked there full-time
until retirement, and today the family business is owned
and operated by her daughter Judy and her husband
Morris.
“When my dad passed away, we bought mother’s
part of the company, and we’ve run it for the last 20
years,” Judy (Kemp) White said. “And our goal was, when
we bought the company, that nobody would know it
changed hands. Because we had learned from the best,
so there was nothing to change. Mother was real excited
because she got to celebrate the 60th anniversary here
with us at Texas Butane [this past April].”
Asked about it, White pondered her mother’s legacy
in Parker County, a county that’s been home to 10 gener-
ations of her family, dating back to 1860.
“I think her legacy is how proud she was of Parker
County, how much she wanted to preserve the history
of Parker County, and her love of her friends, family and
all the people who helped her do these things,” she said.
“She always said, ‘It’s not me who has done it, it’s all
the people that have helped me.’ I think she encouraged
people to come out and help and make Parker County,
their county, a better place.”
Son, Rusty, helped Kemp put on the annual Shaw-
TEXAS BUTANE CO., INC.
Morris & Judy V. (Kemp) White
South Side Square • 103 W. Church • Weatherford, Texas 76086
Local
Phone:
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“LOCALLY OWNED & FAMILY OPERATED”
We are proud to be the oldest continuously family owned propane company in the Area!
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Metro
Phone:
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Propane Sales & Service Since 1958
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