Bryce Kempton

Asa Bryce Kempton

11/08/1934 – 09/12/2024

The night sky will shine a little less bright tonight since one of the brightest stars is gone. Asa Bryce Kempton, beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Brother, Pilot, Rancher, Farmer, and Businessman passed away peacefully early Thursday morning September the 12, 2024, just a few weeks before his 90th birthday, and a few months before his 70th wedding anniversary.

Bryce, as he was known to those who knew and loved him, was born at home in the little town of Eden, Arizona on November 8, 1934 to Lloyd Heber Kempton and Sylvia Jane Bryce Kempton. The middle child of six children he became the arbiter of the family. 

Work on the farm was hard and taxing so he learned to be a very hard worker, he learned valuable principles of honor, respect, and love that would govern his life. His quick wit and ready sense of humor helped make and keep lifelong friends, and made life full of fun and laughter.

As a youth, he had a little mischievous streak, on one occasion, when in grade school, he and a few friends escaped the wrath of an angry teacher by climbing though the holes in the seat of the outhouse and hiding out of sight on a small ledge under the toilet seats. At another time he and the “Eden Boys” were sent home from the Pima School when they showed up to school having lost a wrestling match with a skunk.

He convinced Leta to marry him when he opened the car door of the boy she was dating and pulled her out and stole her away. He wasn’t an immediate hit with his in-laws, Leta’s mother stating that all the Kempton boys were “smart aleck’s”. Bryce and Leta did something very right because soon he was idolized by the in-laws, and now they were about to celebrate seventy years of marriage; during which time they were never apart for more than two weeks.

After marriage, one of Bryce’s first jobs was working for Lindsey Creamery in Clifton Ariz. He later worked in the smelter for Phelps Dodge in Morenci, while he also served in the National Guard in Safford. However, seeking better opportunities he moved his family to Phoenix where he took a job as the keeper of a church welfare farm. Finally, he really found his stride and success as the owner of Kempton’s Travel Town, selling recreational vehicles and park models, where his tenacity, honesty and integrity gained him great success. Also, at this time he purchased and ran a cattle ranch named the Buzzard Roost, a job that he loved.

One of the loves of his life was becoming a pilot. Over the years he purchased and owned a few different models of airplanes and became very skilled at flying. Because he loved flying so much, he helped his sons and older grandsons learn to fly. Again, his generosity was shown as he allowed his family members to use his plane for their own personal use.

Bryce Kempton was generous to a fault, he helped all his boys, and sons-in-law with the money needed to start their own businesses, he built a cabin so that he could share it with his family, one of the rules was that all his posterity could use it. He purchased a houseboat so that he could spend time with all his children and grandchildren, his home was always full of company, his door was always open to all.

He and Leta were able to travel to nearly all parts of the world together. Hanging on a hallway wall of their home is a map filled with little red pins of all the places they were able to travel and enjoy; there are very few empty spaces on the map. Bryce always loved and enjoyed life, he lived it to the fullest, finding joy in all that he did. He continued to snow ski until he was able to qualify for free lift tickets at Sunrise at 70 years of age.

In his 70’s and 80’s he joined with family members and friends to complete the Arizona Trail on horseback, riding up to twenty or more miles at a time. On June 21, 2021, when he finished his last ride of the 800 plus miles, all his posterity joined with him at trails end for a surprise celebration.

Family was most important to Bryce, he was proud of his pioneer heritage, and spent a great deal of time learning about their lives. He organized a yearly Kempton family reunion affectionately known as the “Easter Picnic” where all his family and extended family were invited to attend. This event was held at different venues each Easter weekend. Although not in the best of health, this year Bryce felt that it was essential that he attend. Fittingly what would be his last Easter Picnic was held on the spot of his boyhood family home in Eden, Arizona.

Bryce was preceded in death by his father, Lloyd Heber Kempton, his mother, Sylvia Jane Bryce Kempton, his brother Lloyd Lavar Kempton, and two sisters Helen Callies, and Leola Wadell, and survived by his wife, Leta Rae Godfrey Kempton, his brother-in-law Roger Wadell, his sisters Karen Mattice (Lon) Griffin and Sylvia Lynne (Vernon) Perry, his three children Kellie (Dan) Bowman, Kyle (Tricia) Kempton, and Kip (Loretta) Kempton, 13 grandchildren, and 35 great grandchildren.

The funeral services will be as follows: 

Friday, September 20, 2024 Viewing 10:00 am Funeral 11:00 am Location: LDS Chapel2549 N. 32nd Street Mesa, AZ 85213 Graveside Services: Saturday, September 21, 20245:30 pm at the Eden Cemetery Eden, Arizona 85535