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William E. Kerr, age 101, died Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. Our Dad was born March 9, 1917 in Gilbert, Ark. He and his family then moved to Wichita, Kan. As a boy, he worked odd jobs during the Depression to help his family, like selling ice cream out of his little wagon as he walked the Main Street in Wichita. He also enjoyed “hopping the rails” and helping his dad fix Model Ts.
Dad fought in Europe during World War II and returned stateside to find work in Wichita. He later moved to Phoenix where he met and married our mom, Leila. They raised us in Miami, Ariz., where dad worked as a carpenter with the mines. Working was one of his greatest joys in life.
Later in life, after the death of our mom, he married Annabelle who preceded him in death.
After 62 years in Miami, he moved to Gilbert to be closer to his children. He is survived by all his children: Ron dePierro, Laura Conrad, Lynn Morrison, Dennis Kerr, Rick Kerr and Bill Kerr; 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Near the end, dad shared with us that he had lived 101 blessed years for which he was very grateful.
We too have been blessed by him and are grateful for his steady presence in our lives.
The funeral Mass was held at St. Patrick’s in Scottsdale and the burial took place in the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, with full military honors.
