Gerald Francis Kerr, M.D

Friday, November 13, 2015
Gerald Francis Kerr, M.D

Gerald Francis Kerr, M.D., 71, of Fort Scott, passed away Wednesday evening Nov. 11, 2015. He was born Sept. 30, 1944 in Modesto, Calif., the son of Dr. Russell Waite and Frances DeSales (O'Meara) Kerr. He married Mary Margaret "Maggie" Leonard July 30, 1966 in Downers Grove, Ill.

Dr. Kerr graduated from Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo., in 1961, Regis College in Denver, Colo., in 1965, and the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1969. He did his Internship at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., from 1969 until 1970. He did his pathology residency at Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Va., from 1970 until 1974, and then served as the laboratory director there until 1977. He and his family moved to Fort Scott in 1977 where he began his pathology practice at Mercy Hospital and later co-founded Midwest Pathology Consultants. He served as chief of staff for Mercy Hospital, and served as the Bourbon County Coroner for many years. He retired from medical practice in 1996. He also served in the U.S. Navy from 1970 to 1977.

He is survived by his wife Mary Margaret of the home, and his six children and their families; Dr. Christopher and Tricia Kerr, Jack, Colleen, Will, and Brigid of Rogersville, Mo.; Kathleen and Dr. Carlyle M. Dunshee II, Anne, Mary Grace, Margaret, Jack, Elizabeth, Finn, and Lucy of Topeka, Kan.; Patrick and Kerry Kerr, Colin, Brendan, and Maggie of Leawood, Kan.; John and Margaret Kerr, Mary Elizabeth, Julia, Jane, Catherine, and John of Fort Scott, Kan.; Joseph and Tara Kerr, Catherine, Patrick, Joseph, Margaret Mary, Anthony, Nicholas, and Elizabeth of Atchison, Kan.; Daniel and Kathleen Kerr, Nora, Fiona, Gerald Francis II, and Eileen of Fort Scott, Kan. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother John Russell Kerr.

Rev. Father Robert McElwee, Rev. Father Nicholas Blaha, and Rev. Father Robert Wachter will concelebrate the Funeral Mass 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015 at Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church, with burial following at the St. Mary's Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. The family will receive friends for a visitation beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday evening, Nov. 13, 2015 at the church, followed by the Rosary at 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church Youth Fund, or the Gregory the Great Academy, 621 N. Bromley Ave., Scranton, PA 18504. Contributions may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St., P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701.