Jimmy “Jim” Kay Kemplin, 76, of Russell County, KY, devoted husband of Karen, entered eternal life on Saturday, December 21, 2024. Son of the late Raleigh Kemplin and Allie (Ison) Presnell, he was born in Kona, KY on Jan. 25, 1948.
 

He was a member of Grace Family Fellowship in Russell Springs. From an early age, Jim set out to take care of his family. Following the death of his stepfather, Jim left home to train as a journeyman carpenter at the age of 15, always making sure to mail home money to his mother. For the following 60 years, Jim honed his craft as an experienced trim carpenter. Homes and businesses from Baltimore to Atlanta to Honolulu to Colorado Springs, including a church or two in southeastern Kentucky, bear his expert handcrafted trimwork and cabinetry. Jim served in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer, including 3 tours to Vietnam.