Katherine Ann Kemner, age 86, of Keysville, VA, passed away in Cookeville TN, on Sunday, July 16, 2023. She was born in Utica, NY, on February 24, 1937, the middle child of Dana and Camilla Parkhurst Garvey. In addition to her parents, Katherine was predeceased by her first husband; a sister, Mary Hoyt; a niece, Elaine Darling; and her husband, Donald Kemner.
Katherine grew up in Oriskany Falls, where she graduated from high school before attending Keuka College in Keuka Park,NY.
She married John Martin in 1956 and moved to New Jersey where they lived for 20 years before moving to Cumberland, VA. Katherine was active in many county events, including serving three years as director of the county’s literacy project. She has been a member of Johns Memorial Episcopal Church in Farmville since moving to Virginia, and served in several capacities there, including seven years as treasurer.
In 1994 she married Donald Kemner and they moved to Keysville, VA. The two spent nearly every summer of their marriage traveling the country in their RV, spending most of that time west of the Rockies.
Katherine is survived by two sons, Steven and Christopher Martin both of Virginia; a daughter, Melissa Dunn (Kevin) of Tennessee; five grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; a brother, David Garvey of New York State; and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, July 21, 2023, at the Virginia Veterans Cemetery—Amelia in Amelia Court House, VA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriners’ Hospital for Children or Wounded Warriors Project. The Browning-Duffer Funeral Home in Keysville, VA, is in charge of arrangements.
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Shirley Rennon (Steven's Aunt)
To the family of Katherine Ann Kemner. I was very saddened to have read of Katie’s passing. I had the privilege of meeting Katie and Don years ago and we continued keeping in touch through snail mail. She wrote beautiful letters and Christmas cards. I will certainly miss hearing from her. I was going to get in touch with her to find out if she had been notified of Steven’s passing which I viewed on Facebook. My sincere sympathy in the loss of your family members. May both Katherine and Steven rest in peace.