IVA HENRY KEMP
1929-2021
On the 28th day of September 1929, in Tyler, Texas, Iva Joann Henry was born to Nellie Peters Henry and Lester A. Henry. After graduating from Tyler High School at 16, Iva headed to Roanoke, Virginia, to attend Hollins College. She always said her major was boys, but, when pressed, admitted it was really business. After two years at Hollins, she transferred to Southern Methodist University, saying, “As a loyal Texas girl, that’s just what you did!”
Iva returned to Tyler after SMU, where she worked for E. F. Hutton and studied for her broker’s license. It was there that she fell in love with and married Roger Kemp, her partner for 49 years. The newlyweds moved to Midland immediately after the wedding and Iva devoted herself to raising her 4 children.
In 1968, Roger took a job in New York City, and the family moved to Chappaqua, New York. Three years later, they called Baltimore home. Then, in 1972, they returned to Texas and lived the remainder of their days in Houston.
Iva was a tireless and selfless volunteer for many charities over her lifetime, including the March of Dimes and the Junior League. She was a lifelong Presbyterian and loved teaching Sunday School, attending Sarah’s Circle, and serving as a deacon. Iva was a shrewd investor and had a keen financial mind, which she used in many of her volunteer opportunities. In the 1980’s, she sold North Carolina Crafts and Paper White Linens through her business, Inlets. Throughout their lives, she and Roger were avid tennis players and spent many days at the Houston Racquet Club. Iva had a keen sense of design and was gifted with her hands. Over the years, she knitted sweaters, needlepointed bedspreads, and made all her children’s Christmas stockings. Above all her interests and talents, Iva’s greatest passion after her family was playing bridge and teaching others to love it as much as she did.
Iva passed quietly in her home with family at her bedside on December 15, 2021. Though we miss her dearly, we love imagining her in Heaven, dancing, having fun, and quite possibly enjoying a drink, water “with just a splash of bourbon”.
Iva was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Rogers Kemp, and her son, Stuart Henry Kemp.
She is survived by her children, Lesli (Nathaniel) Tippit (Houston), Liza (Jack) Martin (Austin), and Martha (Paul) Andrews (Scottsdale); her 9 grandchildren, Trey (Shirin) Tippit, Abigail (Matt) Spinn, Holly (Paul) Paraskevopoulos, Jack (Courtney) Andrews, Nick (Allison) Martin, Charlie Andrews, Maclean (Clemmie) Martin, Annie Andrews, and Mark Andrews; and her 9 great-grandchildren, Ella, Luke, James, Nate, Mark, Olivia, Emily, Pierce, Jack, Tip, and Paul. Iva also had 5 stepchildren, Cathy Vance, Debby Darby, Melinda Kemp, Melissa Kemp, and Edward Kemp (deceased), that she held close to her heart and loved very much.
The family would like to thank Neli Aguirre and Dolores Herrera for their tireless and loving care of Iva over the years, Tom Crow for going above and beyond to make sure her hair was always fabulous, and her friends and neighbors for looking out for her and helping her navigate life these past few years.
There will be a memorial service on Friday, March 18, 2022, at 2:00 PM, in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church of Houston, 5300 Main Street. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: JDRF, Southwest Chapter, 4343 East Camelback Rd., Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85018.