I love working on my ancestry. I’ve been doing it for years now. It’s always so exciting when I find out something new about one of my relatives. Well, it’s exciting when it isn’t a living relative who just passed away. Recently my Aunt Marsha (my dad’s sister) passed away and I entered that date into my family tree. And now this morning, My Great Aunt Myrtle left this earth after nearly 100 years.  We were all really wishing she would make to her 100th birthday but she was 2 days short.  She was born August 3rd 1015, the third child to Samuel Kemp Jr. and Elva Weiss. Somewhere in my genealogy records I have a recording of a phone interview I did with Aunt Myrtle many years ago. I believe it was in 2006 when she was a mere 91 years of age. I had questions about her father and her grandfather Samuel Kemp Sr. who came to this country from England in 1882.  She was incredibly forthright and told me all she could remember about her childhood and being raised in the little town of Lime Ridge, Pennsylvania.  It was a wonderful addition to all the factual information I’d compiled. And I was very thankful.

Now I sit here having just entered the date of her passing in my family tree and I’m a little sad. I hadn’t seen her since a big 95th birthday celebration back in Pennsylvania in 2010 but I’ve been able to follow all her family visits via social media. I’d like to thank all my cousins who were able to spend time with her over the past few years. I know you made her last years on this earth very special!

Almost 100 years! Can you even imagine living that long? Aunt Myrtle, way to go on living such a vibrant long life! I was hoping to see you on your 100th, but I know you did the best you could! 🙂 Thanks for being a part of my life! I’ll cherish your memories forever.

Your great nephew,

Paul