James Ray Kerr's Obituary
James Ray ?Jim? Kerr, 71, of New London, NC, passed away Monday March 12, 2018 at the Hospice Home in Burlington, NC.? Jim battled Parkinson?s disease for 18 years.? His body suffered greatly from the disease, but his strong spirit never faltered.
His funeral service will be 4 PM Wednesday March 14, 2018 in the Stanly Funeral & Cremation Care Chapel with Rev. Charles Stevens officiating and family friend, Al Rose, speaking. Burial will follow in the New London Cemetery with full Military Rites conducted by the Honor Guard at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. The family will be receiving friends from 2 PM until 3:30 PM prior to the service at Stanly Funeral & Cremation Care.
Jim was born April 23, 1946 in Stanly County, NC and was the son of the late Scott Ray Kerr and Mary Rose Harris Kerr. He graduated from North Stanly High School in 1964 and earned an associates degree in agricultural science from Randolph Community College. In 1968, he married his high school sweetheart, Jane Wagoner, and they had one daughter, Julie.? Jim was a member of New London United Methodist Church and retired after serving nearly 23 years in the NC Air National Guard. He also spent his career in farming and truck and tractor sales. In more recent years, Jim enjoyed traveling with his family and spending time being ?Dadoe? to his grandsons, Wesley and William. ?Jim will be remembered for his quick wit, silly sayings, and affable nature.
Jim is survived by his wife of fifty years, Jane Wagoner Kerr, of the home. Other survivors include a daughter, Julie Kerr Swanner, son-in-law Steven Swanner, and grandsons, Wesley James and William Kerr Swanner of Burlington, NC. His brother, John Harris Kerr, resides in Greensboro, NC.
Memorials may be made, in Jim?s name, to the NCNGA Educational Foundation, which provides scholarships to members of the North Carolina National Guard Association and their families. NCNGA Educational Foundation, Attn: Ken Tyndall, 7410 Chapel Hill Road, Raleigh, NC 27607, www.ncnga.org.
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