By Roger McKinney
rmckinney@joplinglobe.com
Floral portraits of Teresa and Taylor Kemp will be among those on the Donate Life float “New Life Rises” in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., on New Year’s Day.
Teresa Kemp, 41, and her daughter, Taylor, 13, both of Pittsburg, Kan., died of injuries they suffered in a July 16 car crash when a vehicle that was being pursued by a Cherokee County sheriff’s deputy struck Teresa Kemp’s vehicle. Taylor Kemp died at the scene, and Teresa Kemp died the following week in a hospital.
Teresa Kemp was a teacher at Riverton (Kan.) Middle School, and Taylor was a student at the school.
The mother and daughter will be among 76 people represented in the artistic floral portraits that Donate Life calls floragraphs. Each person depicted was a donor of organs, tissue or corneas, and in some cases all three.
Donate Life is an organization designed to inspire people to become organ donors.
The Midwest Transplant Network, based in Westwood, Kan., is organizing a community floragraph decorating event next month, but specifics about the date, location and time have not yet been released.
The float features a phoenix, the mythical bird symbolizing life rising from the ashes. The floral portraits, made completely of organic material, will make up the bird’s tail as it rises 30 feet above the float from a bed of floral flames. Riding the float will be 24 transplant recipients and family members of donors.
Rivian Bell, who is handling publicity for the Donate Life float, said the final touches must be put on the float in the final two days before the parade, since everything on the float is organic.
Todd Berry, Riverton School District superintendent, said he is aware of plans for the float and that members of the Kemp family are planning to travel to California to be at the parade.
“It’s a neat tribute to them,” Berry said.
Evaluation
Kaston Hudgins, 22, of Galena, Kan., the alleged driver of the vehicle that struck Teresa Kemp’s vehicle, is charged with murder in connection with the deaths of Teresa and Taylor Kemp. He had been ordered to undergo a mental evaluation.
