Roll Call Tribute

Kemper Joseph Gleason 

July 31, 1940 - November 24, 2024 

Kemper “Bear” Gleason, 84, of Athens, Texas passed away on November 24, 2024, in Palestine, Texas. Services will be held at a later date at Ethel Reece Cemetery in Barnsdall, Oklahoma.

Kemper Joseph Gleason was born on July 31, 1940, in Barnsdall, Oklahoma, to Kemper L. Gleason and Pauline Katherine (Berta) Gleason. He attended Barnsdall Elementary School, graduated from Elk City High School, and earned his aeronautical engineering degree from Oklahoma State University. Kemper served in the United States Air Force, where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He loved America and completed two tours during the Vietnam War, flying 157 missions over North Vietnam in an F-100 and F-105 Thunderchief aircraft. He also served as an exchange pilot with the Canadian Air Force.

After his military service, Kemper worked at Ford Motor Company in the GPS Division and later at Lockheed Martin. He returned to school to pursue a master’s degree from Texas A&M University and then taught at Navarro Junior College. Additionally, he volunteered at the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum in Tyler. Kemper will be greatly missed by everyone who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Mike Gleason.

Survivors include his wife of 23 years, Marjorie Gleason of Athens; his children, Kemper Matthew Gleason of Redding, California and Melissa Hood and husband Gary of St. Helens, Oregon; his step-children, Charles Wallace and wife Paula of Athens, Kenneth Wallace and wife Kayla of Athens, and Jessica Lopez and husband Antonio of Colorado Springs, Colorado; along with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home family.