James Forrest Kerr Sr.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

James Forrest Kerr Sr., age 96, resident of Kansas City, Kan., formerly of Fort Scott, Kan., died Thursday morning, Jan. 6, 2011, at the Shawnee Mission Medical Center. He was born Oct. 4, 1914, in Violet Hill, Ark., the son of Robert Benjamin Kerr and Betty Forrest Kerr. He married Valeta King Hicks on Oct. 18, 1963, in Kansas City, Mo. Forrest worked most of his life in the grocery business, beginning in his father's store. He was very active in church work in his earlier years, serving in various capacities.

Survivors include his wife, Valeta, of the home; three sons, James Forrest Kerr Jr. and wife, Emily, St. Louis, Mo., Thomas Joseph Kerr and wife, Deborah, Excelsior Springs, Mo., and Brent Lee Kerr and wife, Leona, Van Buren, Ark.; one stepson, Larry Hicks and wife, Jessie, Fort Scott; one brother, Bill Kerr, Midwest City, Okla.; as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Robert Wesley Kerr; a daughter, Carolyn Ann Kerr; a brother, Truman Kerr; two sisters, Imajene Nidifer and Earline Toliver; as well as his parents.

The Rev. Edward Head will conduct funeral services for Forrest Kerr at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 9, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Private family burial will follow, Monday, in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:30 until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott.

Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.