George Kennedy Kerr, Sr. Obituary (1930 - 2019)

George Kennedy Kerr Sr., 89 of Butler, PA., departed peacefully on Sunday December 15, 2019, surrounded by his family. His last week was spent in the loving care of the hospice program at the VA Butler Health Care Community Living Center. He was born Sept 6, 1930, in Butler, the son of the late Merrill Eugene & Helen McDonald Kerr. He graduated from Butler High School in 1948 and went on to become a much loved family man and business entrepreneur. After his army service, he returned to Butler and worked for his Uncle, RW. Mcdonald during the day and spent his evenings installing TV antennas on rooftops. The companies he went on to found included a group of appliance/TV & furniture locations known as Kerr's Furniture Showrooms, several cable TV systems in towns across Pennsylvania, mobile home sales centers and car dealerships. He served on the Board of Directors of PNC Bank, Butler Memorial Hospital, the Chamber of Commerce, along with several other boards. He was the recipient of a number of business awards and was likewise featured in regional media for his Christian business approach. He married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Tootie Shelton, 69 years ago. The only specific instructions he left regarding this obituary was that it was to declare that his highest achievement was his marriage to his wife and the raising of three Christian sons. He was a church trustee at the Butler Baptist Temple and taught Sunday school there along with teaching at The First Baptist Church and Community Alliance Church. He treasured his time with his family, hunting on his farm in central PA and summers at his cottage on Chautauqua Lake, NY. He was also an Army veteran and is most grateful for the superior care he received through the VA Health System in Butler. Survived by his wife, Tootie Shelton Kerr whom he married September 22, 1950, one son, George (Cathy) Kerr Jr. of Bemus Point NY, 8 grandchildren, Dayne Thomas Kerr, Noelle (Jeremy) Moore, Neilly (Rob) Chevalier, Rebecca (Mike) Lopuchovsky, Jocelyn (Lucas) Wolfe, Courtney (Grant) Fleming, Madison (Richard) Kerr Dobbins and George Kerr III and 4 great grand children. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sons Thomas Alan Kerr MD. and Roger Neil Kerr, a grandson, Mathew Thomas Kerr and his brother, Eugene Merrill Kerr. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Community Alliance Church 800 Mercer Road Butler, PA 16001 or Nallathambi Educational & Health Foundation PO Box 909 Butler, PA 16003. Kerr- Friends of George K. Kerr Sr., who died on Sunday, December 15, 2019, will be received from 10 AM till Noon Thursday, December 19, 2019, at Community Alliance Church, 800 Mercer Road, Butler PA 16001. A memorial service will be held at Noon in the church sanctuary. Arrangements have been entrusted to Thompson Miller Funeral Home.