Victoria "Vicki" Kempf Harris

Victoria "Vicki" Kempf Harris, 64, passed away on July 8, 2026. A lifelong resident of Terlingua Ghost Town, Texas, Vicki was a beloved member of the Big Bend community whose spirit was as wild and beautiful as the desert she called home.

Vicki is survived by her three children, Elena, Viola, and Hance; her sister, Elizabeth Gay Davidson; her great-nephew, Anthony Pattillo; and her extended family and countless friends throughout the Big Bend region. She was preceded in death by her mother, Joanne Kempf; her father, Kenneth "Zero" Kempf; her brother, Dan Kempf; her niece, Jennifer Pattillo; and her dear love, John Wayne Kelly.

Vicki was a true fixture of Terlingua. She knew the desert like the back of her hand and never hesitated to share a story, offer advice, or speak her mind. For many visitors, she was the very first person they met when arriving in Terlingua, and over the years she formed lifelong friendships with people from all walks of life.

She found joy in dancing, singing, running the river, studying herbs, and spending time beneath the endless West Texas stars. She loved watching the sun rise over the Chisos Mountains and the desert come alive at sunset. She had a special gift for befriending every person-and every desert critter-she encountered. Above all else, Vicki loved being a mother to her children and a "Tía" to anyone who needed a helping hand, a kind word, or a place to belong.

Vicki's legacy lives on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her, and in every desert sunrise and sunset over the land she cherished. May she rest in peace.

A Celebration of Life will be held on what would have been her 65th birthday, August 22, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Terlingua Ghost Town Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to gather as we honor and remember her life. A celebration in her honor will follow the service.