Joseph P. Kemp, 65, of Taylorville, passed away on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at his residence.

Joey was born July 31, 1957, in St. Louis, MO, the son of Cloyce P. and Joyce C. (Hess) Kemp.  He graduated from Taylorville High School with the Class of 1976 and went to work on the “Crimson Duke”, a riverboat on the Mississippi, until his retirement in 2020.  From the 40 plus years of traveling up and down the Mississippi River, Joey developed his own dialect that his family and friends came to love.  He loved the great outdoors, and the harder it was to find Joey, the happier he was.  He loved auctions, where he would look for antique toys and paintings, and he loved animals, especially his dogs. Joey had a heart of gold and would do anything for family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Joyce C. Kemp; his brother, Dennis Kemp; and brother-in-law, Terry Harbert.

Joey is survived by his father, Cloyce P. “Papa Joe” Kemp of Naples, FL; sisters, Nancy Harbert and Kathy (husband, David) Moore, both of Langleyville; nieces and nephews, Adam (Shayna) Thomason of Skokie, Grant (Katie) Harbert of Houston, TX, Hayley (Jimmy) Harbert of Taylorville, and Andy (Elizabeth) Moore of Bowling Green, MO; and great nieces and great nephews, Sophie, Owen, Otto, Elliette, and Everlee.

Joey will be cremated, and no public ceremonies are planned at this time.

The family has entrusted Shafer-Perfetti & Assalley Funeral Home in Taylorville with arrangements.

Please visit www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com to share memories of Joey, or to offer condolences to his family.