Herbert Watson Kerr
May 16, 1924 – December 12, 2014
With sadness the family of Herbert W. Kerr announces his peaceful passing at the Bulkley Lodge in Smithers, BC on December 12, 2014. Born in Alberta, he spent his early years in the Topley/Buckflats areas then moved to Quick with his family until he acquired his own homestead in Quick, where he primarily resided until moving into Smithers in 2011. As a pioneer in the community Herb undertook many occupations, including trapping, farming, ranching, hunting and guiding, shovel operator for the BC Dept. of Highways, house builder for a neighbor, logger, truck driver, and equipment operator. In his youth he took pride in one great hop-skip-and-long jump that was rumored to be just an inch short of the record books. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting, playing softball at each annual school picnic, and playing his fiddle for dances at the local halls. In his retirement, he enjoyed travelling with his wife in their motor home and once again he took up the fiddle and played in the Bulkley Valley Old Time Fiddler’s Association.
As our father, we remember him for many little things, such as his gentle brushing out the knots created overnight in his young daughter’s curly hair, or patiently taking the time to teach his young sons to perform tasks that he could have done in half the time. Then there was the time he taught his daughter to parallel park by setting four bales of hay, each two high, in the field a car distance apart then telling her she had to park without bumping into either stack and knocking the top bale off. We also remember his willingness to gather family and friends around the table to play a game of cribbage, whist or pinochle all the while telling stories of days gone by.
Herb is survived by his children, Tim (Linda), Tony (Marilyn), Patricia Jackson, Deborah (Stuart) Coffey, Julia (Ted) Oatway, Lydia (Perry) Wainwright, Cynthia (Bob) Bergen and Terry (Denise); his grandchildren, Trista (Robert) Coburn, Brice Kerr, Cameron Jackson, Kimberly Smith, Christopher Jackson, Sean Coffey, Ryan (Kristen) Coffey, Amanda (Dane) Allington, Stephanie Oatway, Wendel Wainwright, Jennifer Kerr (Kyle Swenson), as well as step-grandchildren, Chad Coffey and Zalie Bergen; great-grandchildren, Ariana, Jaden & Damon Smith, Jaiden & Azalea Allington, Griffin Dawborn, Merrick & Lillian Swenson; his siblings, Elsie Middleton, Harold (Sharon), and Gordon (Linda Sue) and many cousins and second cousins.
He was predeceased by the love of his life, his wife M. Ellen Kerr, in March 2003; his younger brother Art Kerr in September 2014 and his brother-in-law Ted Middleton in August 1991.
Private family arrangements.
Condolences may be offered at
www.raschraderfuneralhome.com
R.A. Schrader Funeral Services
250-847-2441