Leslie Jerome Kerr

Leslie Jerome Kerr - affectionately known as Jerome to family and Les to friends and colleagues - was born March 1, 1952, in Memphis, Tennessee to the late Nolie and Ora Kerr. When he was two years old, the family moved to South Bend, Indiana. He accepted Christ during his formative years at Christian Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. He graduated from John Adams High School in 1970 and went on to attend Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. He graduated from Purdue with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

While attending Purdue, he and his college friends founded their own fraternity called Harambe Iota (HI), where he served as vice president. He also played guitar in Tony Zamora’s jazz band.

Jerome started his career at Fairfield Manufacturing in Lafayette, Indiana while attending college. He went on to retire after 42 years with the company. Jerome loved working and couldn’t sit at home long, so he continued his career with jobs at Subaru of Indiana Automotive in Lafayette, Indiana and Cigna Healthcare in Whitestown, Indiana.

In addition to working, Jerome taught classes at Ivy Tech Community College in Lafayette, Indiana. He also volunteered his time as a virtual instructor, teaching individuals how to leverage LinkedIn through the Church at the Crossing’s Passport to Employment (P2E) program.

Even though he was a very quiet man, he was always actively helping others. He loved technology, music, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. He was an avid biker, photographer, and known as the family historian, having a vast knowledge of the Kerr family genealogy. He was always willing to help anyone - family or friend - research their genealogy as well.

In 1985, he married Alice Lester in Memphis, Tennessee. Alice and her two sons, who he loved and accepted as his own, moved to Lafayette, Indiana. After being married only three months, he and Alice returned to Memphis to bring her twin nieces, who they both loved, to Indiana to help raise. Her sons and the twins loved him and referred to him as their dad. In 1988, they welcomed their baby daughter to the family. They lived in West Lafayette until 2006, when they relocated to Westfield. After moving to Westfield, he united with Eastern Star Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Nolie and Ora Kerr, his sister Eleanor Jean Grundy, and his furbaby, Teeko. Jerome is survived by his loving wife, Alice Kerr; two sons Cornealius Stewart Lester (Deneen) and Koreon Terrell Lester; three daughters Amber Latosha Dandridge, Ashley Natosha Dandridge, and Sidney Kyler Kerr; and his grand-furbaby, Oliver. He also leaves three brothers Nolan Keith Kerr (Rochelle), Emile Cassie Kerr (Deborah), and John Allen Mack (Mia); one sister, Candace Johnson (Rucker); and a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A visitation for Leslie will be held Tuesday, April 16, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Crown Hill Funeral Home, 700 W. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN 46208, followed by a Celebration of Life at 12:00 PM.

Contributions in Leslie's memory may be made to St. Jude Children Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 US, www.stjude.org; or National Brain Tumor Society, 55 Chapel Street, Suite 006, Newton, Massachusetts 02458 US, www.braintumor.org.