Joyce Kerr

Joyce Louise Kerr – beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and sister, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, March 24, 2012. Joyce’s time in this world began on January 14, 1937 where she was born to Theresa and Robert Lewis Mentzer in Darby, Pennsylvania. At age three, when her mother passed away, Joyce was adopted by Sylvia and Richard Mentzer. She moved to Venezuela where she spent many formative years. After moving back to Philippi, WV to complete high school, Joyce graduated in 1955 and returned to Venezuela. There, she met William Y. Kerr (Bill) whom she later married in a ceremony in Panama in August 1957. The two subsequently moved to Tripoli, Libya where their two sons, William Y. Kerr, Jr. and Charles L. Kerr were born. Joyce and family then moved to Jakarta, Indonesia in 1971 and Singapore in 1975. Following Bill’s retirement in 1980, the family moved to Philippi, WV where Joyce resided. Joyce was a child of God and loved and served Him with all her heart. She drew closer to God each day through her daily devotional time in His Word. Joyce was a “soul-lover” and she was keenly aware of God working through her and others as she drew closer to Him each day of her life. God brought people into Joyce’s life through various ways, including her children, friends, church, and through mission work she passionately pursued. Her greatest desire was for the salvation of others. Joyce showed a deep love for the souls of inmates she witnessed to and studied with in prison ministry, desiring that they would accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and be saved. Her open and unconditional love for others continues to be evident in the close spiritual bond she shares with so many friends and family around the world. During this past year, her family was very moved by the outpouring of love, support, daily visits and calls from Joyce’s friends and loved ones. Joyce’s life was so very filled with joy as she spent time with her beloved friend, Myke Hymes, especially during her last days while they did their daily devotionals together over the phone and shared thoughts and events of the day. Joyce was predeceased by her husband, Bill, her parents and brother Robert L. Mentzer. She is survived by her son William Y. Kerr, Jr. in Dallas, TX, his wife Pamela and their children Nathaniel, Mason and Gabrielle, and by her son Charles L. Kerr in Anna, TX, his wife Denise and their children Danielle and Heather and Heather’s husband Billy Chadwick and their sons Cade and Braden in Robert, LA; brothers Jahn Mentzer and his wife Vicki in Pittsburgh, PA, Larry Mentzer and his wife Helen in Bristol, TX, Richard Mentzer in Baton Rouge, LA, Richard C. Mentzer in Pulaski, NY, William Mentzer and wife Millie in Wilmington, DE; scores of cousins, nieces and nephews. Joyce’s family is so very blessed and grateful for the wonderful love and care provided by American Hospice staff of McKinney, TX.
Friends will be received at Crim Memorial United Methodist Church, 200 Pike Street, Philippi, WV on Saturday, March 31, 2012 from 7 am – 2 pm the service hour with Rev. Tim Bleigh officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. Vernon Memorial Cemetery. A memorial service will be planned for a date later in the spring of 2012 in Dallas, Texas. In lieu of flowers, Joyce requested that memorials be made to either Crim Memorial UMC Emergency Fund and/or The Heart and Hand House in Philippi, WV.