Gayle Marie Hix Kemp

Gayle Marie Hix Kemp, 83 years of age, passed away on October 17, 2021. Gayle was born in Red Bluff on December 19, 1937 to the late Ray and Florence Hix. She is preceded in death by her husband, William Kemp. Gayle was the proud mother of Daniel Ellis (Peggy), Deborah Moore, Gregory Ellis (Diane), Kathy Trueblood (Darren, passed 2021), Margaret Blaney (Mike) and Charles Kemp (Tina). She was blessed with twenty-three grandchildren, their spouses, and fifteen great-grandchildren.

Gayle was a life-long business woman and an avid supporter of all things Red Bluff. Raised on Jefferson Street and then moving all around the town and county, she started her career working for her parents at many of the twenty-two businesses they built over the years, from 1936-1970. As a little girl, she helped her parents at the yearly Bull Sales. In 1954, she proudly served as Miss Tehama County. Later, Gayle and her husband Bill owned many businesses, beginning with Kemp's Stationary and Gifts in the 1960's and ending with Gayle's Tuxedos and More which closed in 2010. Gayle loved her customers and meeting and greeting all who entered her doors.

She worked diligently to bring people in to shop Downtown Red Bluff. Gayle was president of the Downtown Women's Merchant Association, which eventually became the Downtown Red Bluff Business Association. She and Bill were involved from the beginning with trade shows at the Bull & Gelding Sale, and loved taking part in the Round-up activities as well. They were given the Chamber award for Business of the Year several times.

In her retirement, Gayle loved to travel, and enjoyed trips with her family to Colorado, Illinois, Missouri,Hawaii and Mexico. She enjoyed her adventures but always loved returning to Red Bluff to her many lunches and outings with friends and family. She was a proud member of the Red Bluff HIgh School Class of '55 and lived for working on her class reunions.

There will be a closed casket visitation at Hoyt Chapel of the Flowers on the morning of Thursday, November 11, 2021 , from 10:00 AM until 1:00. A small graveyard service will be held on Saturday, the 13th at Oak Hill. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Gayle Kemp Memorial Fund at Banner Bank.