Marjorie Kempker

Our mother was always smiling.  She believed that a smile could turn your bad day around -- and she practiced what she preached.  Whether it was meeting strangers or greeting friends and family, Mother was always warm and welcoming, putting others at ease first.

For mother, our family was her world.  She was devoted to her late husband, Paul, of 73 years and adored her three children, Sandra, Janet and Gary.  Mother was always busy making our house a home and making sure we always looked our best before leaving the house.  She was immensely proud of her three children and leaves behind only beautiful memories.

Marjorie (Margie to her friends) Ann Hall was born in Arkansas City, Kansas on November 8, 1926.  Early in her life, with her parents Chester and Georgia Hall, and her brother, Ray, their family moved to Emporia, Kansas.  After graduating from High School, Marjorie moved to Topeka, Kansas where she worked at Hallmark Cards.  She worked in the greeting card section and enjoyed using her creativity with the designs and touching messages within the cards.  Mother always spoke fondly of that time of her life, saying it was her first taste of being independent.  After about a year, she returned to Emporia where she took a position as a dispatcher for the Santa Fe Railroad.

Her love story began when she met Paul, a member of the Army Air Corps.  Mother loved to tell us "I fell for the uniform - Paul was so handsome!"  Marjorie and Paul were married on June 26, 1946 and began their lives together in Emporia, Kansas.  Their first home was an upstairs apartment downtown.  Mother often talked about the coal chute that brought heat upstairs - just not very much!!  Their early years were filled with raising three children, getting settled into a house and spending time with each other.

As their children reached their teen years, Marjorie re-joined the work force and enjoyed a 15 year career at the Lyon County Courthouse in the Treasurer's Office "balancing the monthly budget."   After retirement, she and Paul moved to Colorado in 1989 and spent the remainder of their lives together enjoying the mountains and blue skies of Colorado.  They were avid golfers, loved playing bridge, dancing and hosting July 4th parties at their home.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, Chester and Georgia Hall, her brother Ray Hall and her beloved husband, Paul.  Marjorie is survived by her children: Sandra Schifferns (Mark) of Fort Collins, CO, Janet Terry of Grand Junction, CO, and Gary Kempker (Carol) of Willis, TX; her grandchildren, Stephanie Dodder, Serena Dodder, Spencer Terry, Paige Kempker; and her great grandchildren, Kody and Dylan Gruska.

Services will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church on Friday, June 10, 2022 at 10:00 AM.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to HopeWest (hospice), 3090 North 12th Street #B, Grand Junction, CO  81506.