Janet Kaye Kerr

Janet was born to James “Keith” Jared and Eva Geraldine “Geri” (Ingram) Jared on October 8, 1941, in Kingman, Arizona. Through her childhood, she moved all over the country while her dad worked as a surveyor on construction sites. Between her birth and 1959 when they settled in Bloomington, MN, they lived in Arizona, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, New Jersey, Michigan, Texas, and Louisiana. They lived in 33 foot trailer during many of these years. This life inspired a sense of fun and adventure in Janet. She was able to make friends with anyone and was welcoming to all people.

Janet met Richard Alan Kerr in Minneapolis through their college and career group of South Minneapolis Methodist Churches. Their first date was to a Minnesota Vikings football game. They married on April 6, 1963 and celebrated their 61st anniversary in April 2024. Throughout their marriage, they continued to share their love of God/Christian faith, were avid football fans of the Kansas City Chiefs, loved visits to family/family reunions, and motor home vacations that allowed them to venture across the United States with their daughters.

Janet was a faithful member of Pittman Road Church of God and later of Fellowship Right Baptist Church as her health allowed. Janet cared about people and served in a variety of volunteer/paid positions that allowed her to show that care. She was a babysitter starting at a young age and continued to care for children throughout her life. She was a nursing home aid in college while attending the University of Minnesota where she completed her associates degree. She was an advocate for her son’s school that served children with cerebral palsy in the 1970’s and even attended a lunch with the governors’ wife as part of this important work. Janet was a Water Safety Instructor and swim teacher for many years both at the YWCA and later at the YMCA. She was proud that she even helped her mom learn to swim later in her life. Janet was also a Girl Scout leader for many years for each of her daughters. She had been a Girl Scout herself and a counselor/life guard at a Girl Scout camp in her teen years. Over the years, she served as a children’s church leader. Her sense of fun and love for God shaped the people she came in contact with throughout her life.

Janet is survived by her husband Richard (Dick) of Kansas City, Missouri; three daughters Karen Kerr-Osman and husband Mike Kerr-Osman of Tucson, Arizona; Kathleen Clark and husband John of Anderson, Indiana; Kimberly Kerr of Anderson, Indiana; and two granddaughters Kaitlin Kerr-Osman of Elon, North Carolina, and Cove Kerr-Osman of Seaside, California. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law Paula Jared of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Diane Hancock of Rockville, Maryland; as well as her aunt Sheryl DeMoss of Lincoln, Nebraska, and aunt-in-law Marilyn Ingram of El Paso, Texas.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her son Kenneth Alan Kerr, and her brother James L. Jared, as well as her seven maternal Ingram aunts and uncles.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Janet's memory may be made to Fellowship Right Baptist Church, 4700 Pittman Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64133; and Kansas City Hospice House.