Patsy LaVerne Kerr

Patsy grew up in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and attended SEMO University. She worked for Bell Telephone prior to her marriage to Luther “Luke” Kerr, November 1952. She was a full time mother to five children and for many years cared for other young children in her home; teaching and helping their young minds to learn. She was a special friend and caregiver to widowed, Mary Rizer, who lived next door, allowing her to remain in her home. A longtime member of Cornerstone (Chapel Hill) Christian Church, Patsy, taught children’s Sunday school, sang in the choir and worked in the school kitchen. She enjoyed playing the piano, cooking, sewing and in younger years the great outdoors; fishing and tent camping. A big St. Louis Cardinals fan, she enjoyed watching her redbirds get to the playoffs. Having battled breast cancer, she was proud to be in remission for the past 16 years. Patsy’s work on earth is now completed; she will be so greatly missed by her family, special friends, and all the people that she shared time with.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Luther Kerr; a son-in-law, Tom Lauf; her brother Harold Koeppel, sister-in-law Lucille Koeppel and her parents, August and Grace, nee Bowers, Koeppel.

Surviving are her children, Deborah Lauf, Mark Kerr, Bambi (Bruce) Lynn, Michael (Amy) Kerr, Robin (Dan) Keeton; her grandchildren, Carrie and Eric Defosset, Bethany (Jake) Austin, Britany (Jake) Taylor, Brandon (Kaylene) Lynn, Scott Short, Zachary Hendricks, Brandon Swanson, Shawn Kerr, Val Bowen, Ashley and Britney Lauf, and Shelby Lynn; great grandchildren, Isabelle and Logan DeFosset, Amos and Eliza Austin, Roman Taylor, and Kailey, Mason, Ayden, and Alex Lauf; and many other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to P.T.O.E.C. Special Olympics or to the family. Condolences may also be expressed online at www.lakeviewfuneralhm.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, October 12, 2014, at Lake View Funeral Home, Fairview Heights, Illinois.

Funeral: Services will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, October 12, 2014, at the funeral home. Interment will be held privately in Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, Illinois.