Homer Lee Kerr

Services for Dr. Homer Kerr will be 2:00 pm Friday, September 26 at Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist, 2020 S. Collins Street, Arlington. Dr. Scott Youngblood, Reverend Eldon Reynolds and Reverend Keith Manning will officiate. Burial will follow in Moore Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends for visitation Thursday, 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Moore Funeral Home.

Dr. Homer Kerr couldn’t wait to start living life and was born near Hugo, Oklahoma, October 5, 1921, weighing only four pounds. He lived as long as he could, and entered the next life on Saturday, September 20, 2014. He was a dust-bowl farm boy who grew up with hard work and a great love of family, music, learning, and life itself. After serving in the Army in WWII he used the GI Bill to earn a PhD from the University of Texas in Austin and taught American History at UTA for more than thirty years. Homer dearly loved the American ideal of freedom and opportunity. In 1958 he married his beloved Marie Pickard and they were blessed with fifty-six happy years together.

Dr. Kerr published one book, "Fighting with Ross' Texas Cavalry Brigade, C.S.A.." He delivered the first Webb Lecture at UTA and was proud to have studied under Dr. Webb in Austin. As a result of his deep Christian faith, he was a relentless optimist and as an educator he always had great hope for America’s future. His favorite expression was “God’s been mighty good to me!” Dr. Homer Kerr’s full life could best be summed up by eleven words, “Love God, work hard, love deeply, enjoy life, and live long. “ His long and meaningful life was anchored in three Bible verses: Colossians 3:23 “Whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”

Psalm 37:23 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Dr. Kerr was the youngest of six children and was preceded in death by his parents and all five siblings. Left to mourn his passing, are his wife Marie Kerr of Arlington, two sons; Kerry Kerr of Arlington and Karl Kerr and his wife Suzanne and their family of Burleson. He will be deeply missed by family and friends.

Memorial contributions are requested to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675, www.woundedwarriorproject.org. or Department of History, UT Arlington, Box 19198, 701 S. Nedderman Drive, Arlington, TX 76019.