Wilda Anita McDonald Kemmer age 89 died Thursday. She was a descendent of Rose and Archibald McDaniel (later McDonald) one of the first settlers of the Daytona Beach area. Port Orange was once named
McDaniel and Rose Bay is named after her great grandmother. Before Daytona had any race cars or even tourists people here cut oak trees and drove cattle and her family did the cutting and cattle raising.
She was born in Daytona July 19 1918 to Murray and Susie McDonald and grew up on Ridgewood avenue before it was four laned.
Her father once drove cattle on the open range between Titusville and Bunnell. She attended the first mass at St Paul's church and was it's oldest parishioner. Graduated from St Paul's High School in 1935 and married Bob Kemmer in 1937 who worked at Dunn Hardware for many years. As a teen she sailed on the Halifax river and raised her family of 5 children going on trips to the beach springs and lake.
She was a loving and caring person consistent and kept a good home. She loved her husband and children raised them well and did many things for her family plus was involved with Church Home and School
Lioness Club Palmetto club and still had time for relatives and her Bridge friends. It would take too long to describe the home and help and devotion she gave to us and we all owe her a great debt.
She is survived by her 5 children Karen Janney (Jim) Palm Beach Gardens Robert Kemmer (Linda) Ormond Beach Michael Kemmer (Kay) Ormond Beach Gary Kemmer (Elza) Daytona Beach Kathy Smith (Richard)
Branford sisters Hilda Ent Longwood and Ardis Parker Daytona Beach and brothers Murray McDonald Port Orange and Dennis McDonald Port Orange 15 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held for Mrs. Kemmer at 9:00am Monday December 31 2007 at The Basilica of St. Paul with Fr. Tim Daily officiating. Burial will follow services at Daytona Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 4:00pm to 7:30pm on Sunday December 30 with Rosary services at 7:30pm.