Mildred Louise (Martin Kempf O’Brian) Moore, 95, of Marshall, MO, died Friday, August 12, 2022, at Big Bend Retreat in Slater, MO.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 17, 2022, at St. Peter Catholic Church, with Fr. Francis Doyle and Fr. Kevin Gormley officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will be in Ridge Park Cemetery in Marshall. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Peter Catholic Church, Birthright or Fitzgibbon-Mary Montgomery Hospice in care of Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home.
Mildred was born April 19, 1927, in Pilot Grove, MO, to Urban Martin and Martha Felten Martin. She was the 5th of nine children. Mildred was proudly one of the “Martin Girls” and cherished her siblings. Mildred attended and graduated in 1944 from Mercy Academy in Marshall.
She began work at the Peacock Beauty Shop when she was 16. In 1946, she bought the business with her brother Norbert as partner. Mildred would spend a career as a beautician, as well as, managing the St. Peter’s school cafeteria. She spent her life tenderly caring for others and helping them to become the best versions of themselves.
She became engaged to Jerome Edward Kempf on Christmas Eve 1946. They married on April 16, 1947. Mildred and Jerome welcomed their first child, Jerry, followed by their daughter Pam. Soon after the family built their family home on W. Morgan street. There, Mildred and Jerome welcomed their younger sons Dan and Greg. Jerome died in January of 1966.
Mildred discovered her love for traveling after marrying Frank O’Brian on September 1, 1973. She visited half-a-dozen countries, and most of the 50 states. The couple were doting grandparents! They began traditions such as New Year’s Eve sleepovers with their grandkids. Mildred would continue pitching in driveway baseball games and making milkshakes before bed, as she cherished more grandchildren and great-grandchildren after Frank’s death in July of 1983.
In 1985 Mildred went on a pilgrimage to Rome, after which she met B.R. Moore, and married on May 31, 1986. Mildred and B.R. loved to dance, continued to travel, and to celebrate their families. Mildred loved to quilt and was a member of the Country Patchwork Quilt Guild and the Crazy Quilt Ladies. She completed many love-filled quilted gifts for her family. B.R. died in December 2004.
Mildred fiercely loved her family. She was attentive and engaged with her loved ones. Mildred would make detailed notes recording important dates and cataloging visits and holiday celebrations. Mildred was incredibly hospitable. At her home, she would always offer something cold to drink and something to eat. Family joked that you should accept the first thing she offered, or she may continue offering until she found something you would accept.
Mildred will be remembered as simultaneously the most gentle and the strongest soul. A picture of grace with her trend setting sense of style, lipstick and hair always in place; Mildred never left the house looking less than impeccably put together. Mildred was an extraordinary faith-filled woman. She was devoted to her faith, her church, the Daughters of Isabella and was a passionate and exemplary intercessor.
In addition to her parents and her beloved husbands, Mildred was preceded in death by two sons, Jerome L. and Daniel Kempf; all eight of her siblings, Helen (Sylvester) Widel, Bernard (Rita) Martin, Norbert (Carolyn) Martin, Dorothy (Walter) Pollard (Clarence) Samson, Urban Jr. (Loretta) Martin, Eugene Martin, Theresa Lang, and Sr. Joan Martin; and one granddaughter, Jill Marie Coffey.
Mildred is survived by her daughter Pam Whitney and husband Rich, her son Greg and wife Jayne, all of Marshall; her grandchildren Joy Whitney, Matt (Stephanie) Whitney, Jackie Griffin, Jody Whitney, Dan (Sonya) Whitney, Travis (Jessica) Kempf, Emily (Aleksandar) Zdjelar, Natalie (Josh) Hoffelmeyer, Chase (Haley) Kempf, Brad Coffey (husband of Jill); step-grandchildren Matt (Crystal) Vestal, Jason Vestal, Ron Netemeyer; daughter-in-law, Beverly Kempf; brother-in-law, Bill Lang; and numerous treasured great-grandchildren and God-children.
Mildred often joked that more people called her “Aunt Millie” than any other name. Mildred leaves many greatly loved nieces and nephews as well.