Noretta Kempton

Noretta Irene (Furlow) Kempton, daughter of the late Marvin Furlow and Flora Woodworth, was born July 15, 1932, in Roseville, California, and departed this life on April 6, 2025. She was 92 years of age.

Noretta was married to Fred H. Kempton III on May 10, 1952. They were blessed with three children, Debra L. (Kempton) Bojko, Fred H. Kempton IV, and Michael H. Kempton, eight grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren.

Noretta grew up in Roseville but spent her most precious childhood moments on her grandparent’s ranch in Loomis, California. She loved being outdoors and the long summer days nurtured her love of gardening. Her grandmother also taught her how to cook and sew. She made many of her clothes and her brother's shirts. She also loved to quilt and made baby quilts as the little ones came along. At a young age she went to work at a fruit packing plant and like all children raised in the Great Depression, she was very frugal.

Noretta was a cub scout den mother, the president of the Ladies of Kiwanis, but mostly she loved volunteering for various charitable organizations.

When she moved to South Lake Tahoe in 1968, she became a member of an art club and even had her art on display at the Sahara Tahoe Casino. She was very artistic. She joined a wood carving club and kept carving into her 90’s.

After the family moved to Missouri, she and Fred bought a 65-acre ranch in Seymour. Here she had a big garden, chickens, cows and a horse. The big house was always full of family, fun and lots of food. She was a generous and giving person and she was truly the matriarch of the family.

Noretta is preceded in death by her husband Fred of 64 years, one son Fred, one grandson Jonathan, her brothers, Buster and Donny.

She is survived by her brother Otto (Regina) of California, her daughter Debby (Gene) of Florida, and her son Mike of Fordland, grandchildren, Angie (Sonny), Gene Jr (Brooke), Jeff (Chelsea), Kari (Andrew), Michael (Kali), Danny (Cassidy, and children, Paisley, Bonham) and Kelli (Gary), great-grandchildren, Nevaeh, Dezaray, Loren, Drew, Claire, Aaron, Kimber, Poet, Otto, Travis, Jada, Savanah.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Fordland United Methodist Church