Berkley Wayne Kerr's Obituary
Berkley Wayne Kerr, age 76, passed away Friday, February 13, 2015, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, MO. Berkley was born August 16, 1938 in Boone County, MO., the son of Elvin and Elizabeth (Forbis) Tennyson. His parents later divorced, and when Berkley was 14 he was adopted by his step-father Johnny Kerr.
He graduated from Coffeyville High School and then attended his freshman year at Kansas State University. Berkley struggled to come up with his tuition and actually slept in his car, to save money. He ended up giving up on that dream, due to finances.
In 1957 he married Patricia Gambill, and to that union came three children, Deborah, Diane, and Berkley II. They later divorced.
On March 23, 1966 he married Margaret Carder, and to that union was born two children, Bret and Becky.
Berkley and Margaret lived in Iola when they married, and the family moved numerous times. He worked at various jobs from State Highway Department, to construction, and in his later years he and Margaret moved to Wyandotte, OK, where he raised show dogs, until his retirement.
Berkley was an avid hunter and fisherman and provided many meals for his family with his hunting and fishing skills. He was elected as a member of the school board while living in Silver Lake and he and his wife Margaret were foster parents for children who needed homes.
He is survived by his children; Deborah Kaufman and husband Greg of Humboldt, KS, Diane Spear and husband Dick, of LaHarpe, KS, Berkley Kerr II and wife Pam of Iola, KS, and Bret Kerr and wife Brenda of Rogers, MN, grandchildren; Cisha Wallace of Humboldt, KS, Vanessa Eichorst and husband Randall of Junction City, KS, Ashley St. Clair and husband Aaron of Olathe, KS, Dalton Kerr of Iola, KS, Breanna, Braxton, and Bryant Kerr all of MN, and great grandsons, Peyton Wallace, Drake Guillory, Skylar Eichorst, and Trevor St. Clair.
Berkley was preceded in death by his parents, wife; Margaret, daughter; Becky, and sister; Gail Riley.
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