Richard Ray Hemphill

Obituary of Richard R. Hemphill, DDS

Doc was born January 25, 1926 In Oconto, NE.  He was selected valedictorian and graduated when he was 16 years old after lettering in football, boxing, and basketball.  He entered Kearney State Teachers College on an academic scholarship where he was a member of Phi Tau Gamma Fraternity and received a number of academic awards.  In 1944 college was interrupted when he was drafted and sent to Great Lakes Naval Station.  From there he went to Bainbridge, MD for Yeoman School and on to Camp Pendleton for Encryptography School.  After being honorably discharged from service in the Pacific Theater he returned to Kearney State to complete his last two years of college.  He graduated with degrees in Chemistry and Physics.

Doc married Lois Fae Davis August 15, 1948 and they moved to Lincoln where he entered dental school at the University of Nebraska after refusing an offer to teach at Kearney State in the Chemistry Department.  While attending dental school he taught Anatomy to students at St. Elizabeth Hospital.  He graduated first in his class from the College of Dentistry and was awarded Highest Distinction honors from the University, itself.   After graduation Doc, Lois, and their first two children moved to Yuma where he started his dental practice.   Three children were born in Yuma.

He belonged to the Presbyterian Church, Lions Club, Colorado Dental Association, American Dental Association, Yuma County Mounted Sheriff’s Posse, Yuma County Cattleman’s Association, American Quarter Horse Association, and was the Yuma County Fair Horse Superintendent for a number of years.

Doc was an avid horse and cattleman.  He and Lois retired from dentistry in 1991, but he remained active in ranching until they moved to Virginia Dale in 2002.

He is survived by his wife Lois; his children Charae Hemphill-Dabb (George), Cynthia Blach, Debra Roundtree (Clayton), and Charles Hemphill (Judy); 7 grandchildren Briar Clark (Marty), Brevin Blach (Natashia), Heath Roundtree (Tiffany), Robert Hemphill (Emily), Levi Hemphill (Elizabeth), Kendall Hemphill, and Spencer Born; and 7 great grandchildren Amari and Mason Clark, Talan and Braden Blach, Mesa and JW Roundtree, and Ainsley Hemphill.

He was preceded in death by his daughter Kathleen Hemphill-Born (Scot), his son-in-law Bernie Blach, his father and mother Charles and Lulu Hemphill, and his brother Ronald.

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