Mathew Laraway Kemp

BURLEY – Mathew Laraway Kemp, age 48, quietly passed away at home on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012.

He was born on April 20, 1964, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Samuel Clyde and S. Jane Laraway Kemp. Matt graduated from Davis High School, Weber State College, Florida State University, Florida A & M University, and Tallahassee Community College. He earned two bachelor’s and a master’s degree in history, athletic administration and physical therapy. He was a certified athletic trainer and licensed emergency medical technician.

Matt served a full-time mission to Copenhagen, Denmark from 1983-1984 for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He met his wife, Christine Melissa Reams, in Aarhus, Denmark as she was also serving as a full-time missionary. They were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on June 18, 1987, by their former mission president, Ronald K. Jensen. Together, Matt and Chris have four beautiful boys, Samuel Mathew, Spencer Adam, Peter Laraway, and Ethan James. Matt was a devoted husband and father.

One month after Matt and Chris were married, he landed his first athletic training job in Tallahassee, Florida, at Amos P. Godby High School. He worked with all their sports teams for many wonderful years until he began physical therapy school at Florida A & M University. He loved working with all the athletes, but he especially loved the football and basketball teams, and working with all the wonderful coaches.

Upon graduating from physical therapy school, Matt landed a job at Cassia Regional Medical Center in Burley, Idaho, in 1995. He was very devoted to his physical therapy patients and his co-workers whom he considered some of his dearest friends. He enjoyed his time there tremendously! He volunteered as the athletic trainer for Burley High School and the local area high schools. Athletic training was his passion. He also worked with the Cassia County Emergency Medical Services and was usually on call with Life Run II on his days off from physical therapy.

Matt was a strong, active member of the LDS Church and served mostly in the Young Men organization as president two times, 1st counselor three times, and 2nd counselor/Scoutmaster two times, and as ward membership clerk, which he also loved. He loved those he worked with, especially the young men. Matt loved helping youth succeed.

Matt was preceded in death by his father, Samuel Clyde Kemp; and is survived by his mother, S. Jane Laraway Kemp; his wife, Christine R. Kemp; his children, Samuel, Spencer, Peter, and Ethan; his sister, Jane Ann Peters (Lincoln) of Bluffdale, Utah; his brothers, David L. Kemp (Martha) of Twin Falls, Idaho, and Michael L. Kemp (Sophie) of Moab, Utah; and many, many extended family members.

The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, at the Burley LDS 3rd and 7th Ward Church, 2200 Oakley Ave., in Burley, with Bishop David Hansen officiating. Burial will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19, at the Kaysville City Cemetery, 500 E. Crestwood Rd., in Kaysville, Utah.

Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from noon until 12:45 p.m. Friday at the church.

Matt’s family would like to thank the Cassia County EMT’s, Bishop David and Alice Hansen, George and Jacque Gorton, and Jeff Rasmussen for their strength and loving support on the night of November 10th. We will forever love them and be grateful for them!