Owen X. Kemp

Owen Xavier Kemp, 19, died suddenly, but after battling a long illness, this past Tuesday at his Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Ron's house. Owen had just moved to Utica to start roofing with Grandpa Ron and was looking forward to starting a career with the union and taking some art classes. He was an incredibly talented visual artist, showing and selling his first paintings when he was just nine years old. He also loved music and played guitar, drums and trumpet. He loved animals and the outdoors and grew up hiking, camping, sailing, and fishing with his dad, his grandparents and uncles. Owen loved playing with his little brother and sister, video games, cooking, skateboarding, and Chinese food. He was funny and smart and the most beautiful baby any of us have ever seen. Our hearts are broken that we will not be able to know the fine man he was beginning to grow into.
Owen was the beloved first child in his family. Mourning our loss are his mother Ellie Humphrey Frazier, his dad Deryk Kemp and step-mom Lisa Kemp, as well as his sister and brother Sadie and Elliott Frazier, who adored their big brother. He will be forever missed by all of his grandparents: Grandma K (Kathie) and Bill Fox, Grandpa Dave Kemp and Sue Moffett, Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Ron Humphrey, Liz Million, and Lou DeBonzo; his Uncle Corey Kemp, Uncle Aaron and Aunt Staci Kemp, cousins Sophia and Nick, Auntie Amber Humphrey and Uncle Alex Schmidt, Aunt Kim Fox and cousins Devon and Dylan.
Owen was also loved by a huge extended family and many special friends: "his KimBettner" and "Uncle" Scott McDonald, Julie DeBonzo, Andy Gilmore, Ben Frazier, Andrew Doyle, Tyler Guinane, and Iane Zimmerman; Great Aunt Robin Slawson and Lucille Rignanese, Great Aunt Pam and Steve King, Great Uncle Buck and Chantel Slawson, Great Uncle Alan and Brenda Kemp, Great Uncle Dick and Bic Jones, Great Aunt Ginger and Mark Swayze, Great Aunt Peggy Morgan, Great Aunt Lucretia Humphrey, Great Aunt Kathy and BJ Queen, Great Uncle David and Sheila Humphrey, Great Uncle Bob and Linda Humphrey, Great Uncle Don and Nikki Humphrey; his dog Blixa and many second cousins and friends.
We are confident that Owen's spirit is now free from his pain and is somewhere being held by the spirits of his Great-Nana, Great-Grandma Jones, and Great-Grandma and Grandpa Kemp, Great-Grandpa Dave, Great-Grandma DeBonzo, and Great-Great-Grandma Vickie, all of whom knew him and loved him very much.


For those that wish to make a donation, we suggest LIFE House. Please make your check payable to "LIFE House in honor of Owen Kemp", and send to the Villa of Hope, ATTN: LIFE House, 3300 Dewey Ave Rochester, NY 14616 Anything you can do in your own way to help someone in need would honor Owen's loving spirit.


Immediately after the service, we'll gather at the Sea Breeze Fire House 4657 Culver Rd Rochester, NY 14622. We're asking everyone that can to bring a dish so that we might share a meal and more memories of our dear boy. (Please note that we cannot bring alcohol but there is a bar there).

On Sunday at 11:00 am (tentative) the Rochester Surf Club is holding a Paddle-Out celebrating Owen's life at the Irondequoit jetty. Non-surfers are welcome.