Obituary of Katherine Johnston

Katherine (Kemp) Rizley Johnston was born March 28, 1927 in Birmingham, Michigan to Dr. William Lloyd Kemp and Louise Lightbody Kemp. She passed from this life Sunday, April 14, 2013 in Tulsa at the age 86. Katherine graduated from Baldwin High School in Birmingham, attended Michigan State University and graduated from Carroll College, Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1950. Music was an important part of Katherine's life and she shared her love of music with her family and many others over the course of her lifetime. She directed the men's chorus at the University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, taught music at Holland Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa from 1970 to 1973 and taught private piano lessons for many years. As a member of the Junior League of Tulsa, Katherine organized the Junior League Chorus (later known as Program Reach Out) and directed it for five years. Katherine's many activities included membership in Alpha Phi sorority, Junior League of Tulsa, the Guild of Tulsa Opera, Tulsa Philharmonic Society, Children's Day Nursery, Philbrook Museum and Gilcrease Museum. She was loved by many and known by all as a charming, candid lady with the very best sense of humor. Katherine was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Dr. William Lloyd Kemp, Jr. of Palm Beach, FL. She is survived by two sisters and brothers-in-law, Sally and Stan Reinhart of Atlantic Beach, FL, Mary and Fritz Riedlin of Easton, MD and sister-in-law, BJ Kemp of Palm Beach, FL; her five children, Kate Rizley Davis and her husband, Mike McCue of Tulsa, OK, Sarah Rizley Kuckelman and her husband, David of Potomac, MD, Robert Kemp Rizley and his wife, Toni of Tulsa, OK, Nancy Rizley Lipotich and her husband, Clark of Tulsa, OK and Julia Rizley Stewart and her husband, Paul of Norman, OK. She is survived by seven grandchildren, Matthew Davis and his wife, Meredith, Megan Davis, Katherine Anne Kuckelman, Connolly and Briana Rizley, Kemp Stewart and his wife, Brittany and Alex Stewart; one great grandchild, Boss Stewart; and several nieces and nephews. She was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church where her ashes will be placed in the columbarium. A memorial service will be held 2:00 pm Thursday, May 2, 2013 at St John's Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Hospice Foundation, 6400 S. Lewis Ave., Tulsa, OK 74136 or the charity of your choice. Remembrances may be shared at www.ninde.com. Ninde Funeral & Cremation (918) 742-5556 www.ninde.com