< Previous20 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2025 “Decorating the village tree” is one of many tableaux found in Joy Kemper’s Christmas village. COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2025 21 FEATURE IT TAKES A VILLAGE Islander carries on his grandmother’s Christmas tradition story by BARBARA CANETTI | photos by STUART VILLANUEVA F or more than 30 years, Joy Kemper collected miniature ceramic houses and buildings, all with a Yuletide theme. And when she put them all to- gether, she created an enchanted Christmas village for her, family and friends to enjoy. Recently, however, Kemper, 91, no longer was able to display her large, elaborate village of 80 build- ings and hundreds of accessories. But her grandson, Sam Malchar, who remembers holidays viewing the community of Christmas buildings, offered to take her carefully cata- loged décor to display it in his downtown Galveston office. Malchar, a financial advisor, invites friends, clients, school groups and the general public to see the display, which fills the conference room in his office. In 1990, Kemper’s husband, Richard, gave her the first piece of the Christmas village. She displayed it but then put it back in its original box, dated and noted where it came from. In subsequent years, each piece she bought or received was documented, Malchar said. And each piece has a special story. Sam Malchar, pictured with his wife, Samantha, and their children, Cannon, 5, and Scout, 6, has fond memories of his grandmother Joy Kemper’s Christmas village. When she no longer was able to display the elaborate collection, Malchar offered to carry on the tradition.22 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2025 FEATURE COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2025 23 Kemper, who lives in north Houston, likes to dress as Mrs. Santa Claus and provides an oral history of the village when it’s on dis- play. The village consists of coffee shops, toy stores, factories, trains, trees, churches, ski slopes, an observatory, candy mine as well as the police department, fire house, library, post office and city hall. All of the pieces are detailed and together create a lively, colorful community. “We even have a radio station — KOLD,” Malchar said. It takes Malchar and his staff several days to put all the pieces together, combining the “working” buildings — factories and mines — and separating them from the elves’ village, shops and the government build- ings. But once it’s all laid out, nestled in a snowy-looking landscape, Malchar is ready for guests. “I can’t remember any time when I was growing up that we didn’t have this experi- ence,” Malchar said. “These pieces have been perfectly preserved and by us putting it up, we are making memories for our children and their families.” “These pieces have been perfectly preserved and by us putting it up, we are making memories for our children and their families.” SAM MALCHAR COU r T e SY SAMANTHA MALCHA r (From top) Joy Kemper, who began collecting pieces for her Christmas village in 1990, likes to dress as Mrs. Santa Claus and provides an oral history of the village when it’s on display; though each piece in Kemper’s village holds a meaning for her, Mrs. Claus’ Greenhouse is her favorite because it’s a perfect reflection of her love for holiday cheer, she said. (Opposite, from top) Samantha and Sam Malchar show their children, Cannon, 5, and Scout, 6, details in the village; “Santa’s Workshop” was the first piece in Kemper’s village. The tiny house was given to her by her husband, Richard; “The Home of Mr. and Mrs. Claus” was the last piece Kemper’s husband gave her.LIFE-LIKE&FRESHCUTCHRISTMASTREES WREATHS|GARLANDS|POINSETTIAS HOLIDAYDECOR|GIFTS&MORE ChristmasJoy DECKTHEHALLSWITH 201445thStreetOpenDailyKeeping Your Family Healthy This Holiday Season The holidays should be filled with joy—not worry. When unexpected illnesses or injuries happen, UTMB Health is here for you today. Our Urgent Care and Primary Care teams offer same-day appointments for adults and children, so your family can stay healthy and keep the season bright. 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Caring for the Unexpected The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB Health) is in-network for most major insurance plans. utmbhealth.com/same-day26 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2025 TREASURE TROVE ‘SO MAGICAL’ Islander pays tribute to a mother who loved Christmas story by SHANNON CALDWELL photos by JENNIFER REYNOLDS M itchell Bage’s mother, Toy Ann Bage, loved Christmas so much she bought all her children and grandchildren rotating tree stands. “Christmas was so magical for us grow- ing up,” said Mitchell Bage, an islander and co-owner and creative director of Maison de Campagne, an interior design and home staging company. “Mom would spend hours decorating our whole house and we never knew what she would do next. It really was her love language.” In addition to beautifully decorated trees in different rooms, every table, mantel and fireplace in the family’s Santa Fe home would be beautifully decked out with gar- lands, wreaths and seasonal décor, he said. Every year, there would be a new theme and memorable themes included Christmas elves, giant glittery poinsettia blooms, top hats and oversized candy. “Her trees were always full of ornaments and she was known for her phenomenal handmade bows,” he said. “She loved gift giving and her bows were so elaborate peo- ple would think they were the gift.” A homemaker and creative entrepreneur, his mother had many successful home business- es specializing in wedding planning, floral displays and interior design. For many years she worked at Hobby Lobby, and her Christ- mas lobby displays were so popular custom- ers would use them as a backdrop for family photos. Every year, she would purchase all the items on display amassing a Christmas collec- tion that filled two storage units. This year will be the family’s first Christmas since Toy Ann passed away, and Mitchell is planning to do her proud by using some of her ornament collection to make a beautiful tree in the entrance of his Galveston Island home. Thanks to the rotating stand from his moth- er, it will be gorgeous from all angles. Each month, Coast Monthly highlights intriguing relics or antiques on the upper Texas coast. COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2025 27 TheDoyleFamily THE GreaterHoustonArea TitleCompanies SOUTHLANDTITLELLC NAMED#6 2025 THEL T IS THREEGENERATIONSSTRONG— HONOREDBYTHE HOUSTONBUSINESSJOURNAL ASTHE#6TITLECOMPANYINTHE GREATERHOUSTONAREA, WE’REPROUDTOBERECOGNIZED AMONGTHEBEST. IT’SPROOFTHATTRADITION, INTEGRITY,ANDINNOVATION NEVERGOOUTOFSTYLE. ANDSTILLGROWING. FROMOURROOTSTOOURREACH, SOUTHLANDTITLECONTINUESTORISE. (Opposite) Ornaments in red, gold, cranberry bronze and animal print are part of a holiday collection Mitchell Bage Jr. inherited from his mother, Toy Ann. He’s using the ornaments to decorate the tree in the foyer of his home in Galveston. (From top) Giant glittery poinsettia blooms are among the many decorations that will adorn Bage’s Christmas tree; a box holds beaded bronze onion-shaped ornaments that were some of the first Bage purchased years ago to decorate his home.CELEBRATE Togetherness And Timeless Traditions BECAUSE THE GRANDEST GIFTS AREN’T WRAPPED—THEY’RE SHARED 346.646.7850 | GRANDLIVING.COM Daily Chef-Prepared Meals The Grand Spa & Fitness Center Chauffeured Transportation Housekeeping ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY # 311651A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION CHRISTMAS TUE, DEC 9 | 7 PM Join Garrison Keillor, Heather Masse, Maria Jette, the Radio Acting Company, Fred Newman, Richard Dworsky and the Guy’s Shoe Band for the Adventures of Guy Noir, Duane & His Mom, the News from Lake Wobegon, A Christmas Carolette, and the audience singing of five beloved carols. DICKENS’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL FRI, DEC 5 | 8 PM SAT, DEC 6 | 3 PM A powerful story of redemption, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Caro l has enchanted audiences all over the world with its traditional message of holiday joy! Enjoy traditional Christmas carols in this classic production of a beloved holiday story. GET TICKETS! THEGRAND.COM Next >