Laura Kemper Obituary

Laura Lea Kemper. 83, a resident of the Forest Grove community passed away on July 3 2025 at her home.
Laura was born on October 2, 1941, in Oregon City Oregon. She was the second oldest of six children born to Raymond and Maxine (Stout) Rightmire. She moved to Aloha as a young child to a small farm, where she received her education and graduated from Beaverton High School in the Class of 1959. Laura started working at Montgonery Wards in Portland following school.
She met her future husband, David Kemper, through mutual friends. They soon began dating and married 1 ½ years later on February 8, 1964, at ST Francis Catholic Church in Roy. They made their home in Roy for 35 years, raised three children, Mike, Becky and Dan before they eventually moved to Forest Grove in 2000.
Laura was a homemaker while the children were young. Once they entered grade school she worked full time as a purchasing agent for Rodgers Organ, Epson, Space Labs and retired from Gerber Knives in 2004.
She enjoyed tole painting, knitting and followed baseball and football. She volunteered at her church, St Francis, as a past secretary and treasurer for the Altar Society and was a past chairwoman for the annual Christmas Bazaar. She enjoyed traveling, especially to Mexico with their close friends and family. In early retirement Laura and Dave were snowbirds spending 14 of their winters in Sun City AZ. She always loved spending time at the beach, from her honeymoon to her more recent time at her house in Pacific City. At family gatherings she was famously known for her potato salad, rhubarb or pumpkin pies and sugar cookies. She always liked to put her family first especially her grandchildren.
Laura is preceded in death by her parents and three siblings, Marlene Jones, Allen Rightmire and Alice Blakely.
She is survived by her loving husband, David, three children and their spouses, Mike and Deanna Kemper of Forest Grove, Becky Kemper and Stuart Collis of Kirkland, WA, Dan and Billie Kemper of Newberry Park, CA., two brothers, Robert and Jim Rightmire, six grandchildren, Cassie, Rachel, Jake, Will, Cam and Ryan, two great-grandchildren, Cason and Piper.
The family suggest donations be sent to the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Grade School. Click here