Mary Ann Kerr

Mary Ann Kerr, 81, cherished wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on August 11, 2024. She was preceded in death by her parents Anne and Raymond Poljanec of Anchorage, Alaska. She is survived by her husband Dr. Robert (Bob) Kerr; children Kathleen (Chuck) Kerr Blanchard of Dallas, and Suzie (Chad) Forsberg of Dallas; her 3 grandchildren, Will Forsberg, Katie Forsberg, and Andrew Blanchard; and sisters Karen (Lou) Matjasko of Illinois and Sharon Bandle of Anchorage, Alaska.

Mary Ann was born January 10, 1943, in Ely, Minnesota. She had fond memories from her early childhood in Japan, where her father was stationed after World War II. Her father's military career eventually took them to Middletown, Pennsylvania, where she graduated at the top of her high school class and received a full tuition scholarship to college.

She attended Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, PA, where she received a BS in Biology. She met the love of her life, Bob, the first day of class in the college dining room. They were married on June 3, 1967, and recently celebrated 57 wonderful years together.

Mary Ann spent her early professional years teaching on Adak in the Aleutian Islands where she served as the science department, teaching every science course offered. She moved to be closer to Bob in 1966 and continued teaching science in Mount Lebanon, PA before enrolling in the M.L.S program at the University of Pittsburgh. Bob’s career then took them to Minneapolis where Mary Ann was a reference librarian for Macalester College before being asked to create libraries for elementary schools in the area. Building libraries was one of her favorite jobs that she continued to talk about her whole life, often sharing her favorite children’s literature with those around her.

Mary Ann and Bob then moved to Texas; San Antonio in 1972 and then Austin in 1974. In the 1980s, Mary Ann founded and owned a balloon business, Balloons Over Austin. Her business included the usual balloon delivery but also gorilla grams and singing telegrams. She loved knowing her business helped celebrate various festive occasions and brought people joy and laughter. She then became a real estate agent, and, for many years, she thoroughly enjoyed helping people find their perfect home.

Mary Ann spent many years volunteering at church, and especially enjoyed her time serving with the Assistance League of Austin. She had a love for cooking and a passion for travel. She and Bob traveled the globe, including all 7 continents, exploring the world and building life-long friendships. Deeply interested in others, Mary Ann had a strong love for people and made friends wherever she went. Her 3 beloved grandchildren referred to her as "Lovey", a perfect moniker for such a special person.

Very special thanks to Dr. Demetrius Loukas for his extraordinary care and compassion. We would also like to thank Reiner Hospice, Dr. Deborah Ekery, and Dr. Sami Aboumatar for their loving care and support over the years.

The family requests any memorial contributions be made to the Dr. Robert O. ’64 H’23 and Mary Ann ’64 Kerr School of Health Sciences Scholarship, gifts can be made online at http://www.etown.edu/give . Select Other – Enter Kerr Fund in the gift designation OR send a check to Elizabethtown College, One Alpha Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022. Please specify “Kerr Fund” on the check.

Visitation will be held Friday, August 30, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm and her Memorial Service will be Saturday, August 31, 2024, at 1:00 pm with a reception to follow. Both will be held at Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home; 5416 Parkcrest Drive, Austin, Texas, 78731.

Burial will be at Sparkman-Hillcrest in Dallas, Texas on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at 1:00 pm with a reception to follow.