EVELYN KERR

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EVELYN KERR Evelyn May Kerr (née Marsden) passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of May 3, 2011, at the age of 98 years. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, William Wyman, her daughter Jennifer Lynn Simonsen O'Neil, her parents Jennie and Bert Marsden, her brothers Raymond and Herbert, and her sister Alice, and everyone else of her generation. She is mourned by her daughter Nancy Walker (Ian), grandchildren Karl Simonsen (Kathleen), Katy Moore Simonsen (Doug), Amelia Walker (Gavin), Sophie Walker, Lucy Walker, Will Walker and Joy Walker, great-grandchildren Sean and Karin Moore, and special friend Mary Kennedy. Evelyn was born April 8, 1913, in Windsor, Ontario, and graduated from high school at the age of 15, when she joined the Ford Motor Company doing clerical work. After the early loss of both her parents, she was responsible for raising her younger brothers and sister. She studied drama and elocution and performed at many social events. She met and married Wyman in 1940, and their first daughter Jenny was born in 1942. Wyman served in the Navy during the Second World War, and after the war they moved to Alberta where Nancy was born in 1951. After living in Edmonton, Calgary, and Ralston for 10 years, they moved back to Ontario and settled in Sarnia. Evelyn battled breast cancer in her 50s and beat it, then lung cancer in her 70s and beat that too. She was always of a firmly positive disposition, always serving others and thinking of others first. At the age of 65 she decided to start taking university courses, since she had never been able to go in her youth. She graduated with her BA in English from the University of Western Ontario when she was 74 years old. She maintained an interest in drama all her life, belonging to several amateur drama companies, particularly the Sarnia Little Theatre, to which she was presented a Life Membership. She acted and directed productions, and taught elocution to teenagers in the Drama Club well into her 80s. She was always an active church member, notably at St. Luke's United Church in Sarnia, where she was in the United Church Women, Key Woman of the World Day of Prayer, CGIT Leader, Sunday School Teacher, belonged to the prayer group and sang in the choir. She continued her church involvement as best she could when she moved in with her daughter Nancy, at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, still singing in the choir until she was almost 97. She was deeply affected by the loss of Wyman in 1994, and her gradual decline started from this time. After her daughter Jenny passed away in 2005 it became no longer possible for her to live in her own home, so she moved to Winnipeg to live with Nancy and her family. Finally, last January, she moved into the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg, whose staff provided full-time support and a stimulating environment. On April 16 she fell and broke her hip, and despite surgery and excellent care, it proved too much for her, and she passed away peacefully in her sleep May 3. There will be a memorial service on Saturday, May 7 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 600 Minto St., Winnipeg, followed by one in Sarnia later in May where her cremated remains will be interred with Wyman and Jenny. She was always wanting to go home, and now she has her wish. Bye, Grandma, and we'll see you later. Have fun! NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE (204) 949-2200 nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 06, 2011