Ouachita County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....HEMPHILL, DEWEY KEENAN October 10, 2009
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Gina Brown http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006026 October 20, 2009, 3:16 pm

News Star World - October 13, 2009
DEWEY KEENAN HEMPHILL

Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home, Austin, TX

Dewey Keenan Hemphill died Saturday, October 10, 2009 surrounded by his 
family. He began life in Ferriday, Louisiana on July 19, 1934 with parents 
Dewey and Audrey Hemphill.

Dewey graduated from Grayson High School in Grayson, Louisiana and attended 
ULM on a basketball Scholarship. In 1954, before graduating, he enlisted in 
the U.S. Air Force. Dewey soon qualified for the Aviation Cadet program and 
walked away from an opportunity to play for the Baltimore Orioles to pursue 
his dream of flying. It was during this time that he met the love of his life, 
Betty Shepherd. He soon received his wings and was commissioned as a Second 
Lieutenant in the USAF.

Betty and Dewey were married in 1957 just before his first assignment to 
Misawa AB, Japan. It was there he and Betty had their precious daughter, 
Teresa. Subsequent assignments include Shaw AFB where he flew missions during 
the Cuban missile crisis and Ramstien AFB. In 1967, Dewey was assigned to 
Udorn AFB in Thailand. He flew the RF-4 on 100 reconnaissance missions over 
North Vietnam where he earned the Silver Star. The memories of friends lost 
stayed with him for years. He returned from the war to serve as an Air Force 
liaison officer at Fort Hood. Following this he spent time at Langley AFB and 
later was selected to be operations officer and then squadron commander of the 
29th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Bergstrom AFB. He was assigned to 
Ramstien AFB, Germany where he served with NATO in 4 ATAF and AAFCE. He 
finished his distinguished career as a Colonel serving as Vice Commander of 
the 17th Air Force at Sembach AB, Germany. Dewey was a life long student of 
history and received his Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Hampton 
University. During his military career he earned numerous medals including the 
Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Meritorious Service Medal 
with 1 Oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit, and Air Medal with 11 oak leaf 
clusters.

Dewey was a man admired by all. With a beaming smile his tenderness, courage, 
and humor would prompt all those around him to be at ease. Dewey's patriotism 
permeated all aspects of his life. His love and devotion to his wife and 
daughter were storybook in their depth and beauty. In the years that followed 
his military career he resided in Austin before relocating to Monroe, 
Louisiana. He treasured the road less traveled with his lover and best friend 
of 52 years, Betty. Together they touched many. Seldom to let a kinship fade, 
he stayed in touch with many from his military service attending numerous 
Recce reunions. Between these times he would spend countless hours with his 
grandchildren, laughing and loving them through all their ups and downs. His 
example as a husband and father continues as a standard for his son-in-law, 
Matt. Above all Dewey would admit his greatest achievement was his daughter 
Teresa.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father and survived by his dedicated 
and loving wife, Betty; adoring daughter, Teresa and forever changed husband 
Dr. Matt McCarty of Austin; four precious grandchildren, Dillon Keenan, 
Meredith Rose, Hayden Matthew and Laura Elizabeth McCarty; sister, Cheryl and 
husband, Wayne Eubanks of Oklahoma City and their sons, Chris and Cory, along 
with his younger brother, Frank of Monroe.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 13, 
2009 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 
14, 2009 in the Chapel of Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home. Interment with 
full military honors will take place at a later date at Arlington National 
Cemetery.

In Lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Wounded 
Warrior Project. www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Please join us in celebrating Dewey's life by visiting our Memorial at 
www.mem.com where we invite you to share your thoughts and fond memories with 
our family.

Arrangements under the direction of Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home, 6300 
W. William Cannon Drive, Austin, Texas 78749, (512) 892-1172


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