Jane Laraway Kemp

Saidee Jane Laraway Kemp passed away February 13, 2023, at the age of 97.

Jane was born November 19, 1925, to Ora Roylance Laraway and Earl Rutgers Laraway in Hazelton Pennsylvania.

After the death of her father when Jane was 6 years old, her mother returned to Utah with Jane and her younger brother Tom. Jane had a happy childhood in Salt Lake City filled with cousins and aunts and uncles who loved her. She said she felt few effects of the depression due to her mother’s resourcefulness; she would mirror this frugal resourcefulness for the rest of her life.

Jane attended St. Mary’s of the Wasatch during her high school years where she made lifelong friendships. She attended and graduated from the University of Utah and was a loyal fan. While at the U she was a member of PhiMu sorority. She spoke fondly of her time at the U and in her sorority. This time in her life was a window into how she’d live the rest of her life, working hard while respecting the value of fun and adventure.
Jane married the love of her life—Samuel Clyde Kemp on July 26, 1957, in Salt Lake City. Together they raised their family of four children in Kaysville, Utah. Jane lost Clyde too early in 1986 after lovingly taking care of him for 9 years after he suffered a stroke. She often spoke of his never-ending patience as well as their partnership and ability to communicate despite the difficulties caused by his stroke.

She volunteered at the LDS and University of Utah hospitals for many years and loved the friends she made there as well as the chance to serve. She regretfully gave up volunteering at the LDS hospital at age 94.

She was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all of her life and loved the opportunities she had to serve and teach in the Church. She treasured and leaned on her relationship with her Heavenly Parents and her Savior.

Jane loved life. She loved anything beautiful—art, music, dance, theater, sunsets, full moons, the ocean, flowers, travel, a good book, and a good meal. She loved to cook, sew, knit and weave and was good at all of it. She was infinitely curious and loved reading about and exploring the world. Her mind remained sharp almost to the end.

Jane leaves behind her daughter Jane Ann (Lincoln Peters) and sons David (Martha), Michael (Sophie), and daughter-in-law Christine (Mathew), 10 grandchildren (Samuel, Samantha, Thomas, Spencer, Emily, Kristopher, Connor, Peter, Kasey, and Ethan) and 2 beloved great-grandchildren (Hudson and Madden).

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, brother Tom, husband Clyde, an infant son Thomas and her youngest son Mathew.
The funeral will be held Saturday, February 18 at 11 a.m. with visitation an hour before the service. Bluffdale Ward Building, 14400 South Redwood Road. A short graveside service will be held at Kaysville Cemetery at 2:00 that same day.