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Date of these obituaries: 12-18-97
Family came first for JoAnn Moffett Kerr
JoAnn Moffett Kerr, mother of state Rep. Tom Kerr, died at 1:40 a.m. Wednesday at her son's home in Taylor Mill after a long bout with cancer. She was 66.
Mrs. Kerr was a petite dynamo who coupled a rich faith in God with immense understanding and respect for others, her son said. She was a homemaker who turned her child-rearing skills into effective business know-how when the need arose, entering the business world after her divorce in the late 1960s.
"She was the most understanding, loving mother, " said Rep. Kerr. "She never wanted to be anything else, but when she had to enter the work force she got some training and went to work."
Mrs. Kerr became an office manager for a contact lens laboratory and worked closely with physicians. She became an authority on the product and the client's needs, said Kerr.
Mrs. Kerr was a longtime member of Calvary Baptist Church in Covington and a member of Concerned Women of America, a Christian women's organization.
"Her main joy was her family, " said Kerr. She took pride in the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren.
Another son, Jim Kerr, is an administrative law judge in Lexington. Her daughter, Debra Ann Bridges, lives on a farm with her husband, attorney Gailen Wayne Bridges, in the Independence/Nicholson area.
When Tom Kerr entered political life, Mrs. Kerr's first question was, "Will it make you happy?" Her next question was "What can I do?"
She campaigned door-to-door, made phone calls and stuffed envelopes.
She was a regular at her grandchildren's school performances and sports events. She retired in 1983 when she developed a disc problem in her back. She was diagnosed with cancer four years later.
"We had just bought a new house with the idea that she would move in with us, " said Tom Kerr. "She had her own suite, but she was able to spend time with the family. We were lucky to have that time together, " he said.
"She was always happy, " Kerr said. "She always said that we never caused her any trouble. Other kids get into drugs or other problems, but we didn't and I think it was because of her influence and her teaching us principles like the Golden Rule. She was an example to us. She loved us so much and that love was so evident that we loved her all the more in return."
Mrs. Kerr was a native of Kenton County. Moffett Road was named for her grandfather's family. Her great-grandfather was Henry Clay Nicholson, physician and inventor, for whom the town of Nicholson was named.
Other survivors include nine grandchildren.
Services will be noon Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church, Covington. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Ft. Mitchell.
Memorials may be made to Calvary Christian School, 5955 Taylor Mill Road, Covington, Ky. 41015; or the American Cancer Society, 7730 U. S. 42, Suite C6, Florence, Ky. 41042. -
Robert B. Boschert, 80, of Elsmere, died at 4:08 a.m. Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. He was a retired controller with H&S; Pogue Co. and a driver with Avis Rent-A-Car, both in Cincinnati. He was a member of the Kenton County Senior Golf League, and a Navy veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Viola A. Foltz Boschert; daughters, Barbara Hollman of Crescent Springs and Mary Johnson of Richmond; and four grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Mary Queen of Heaven Church, Erlanger. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Burlington. Burial will be in St. John Cemetery, Ft. Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to the Mary Queen of Heaven Building Fund, 1150 Donaldson Highway, Erlanger, Ky. 41018.
Helen Mae Brown, 71, of Brooksville, died Wednesday at Central Baptist Hospital, Lexington. She was a cafeteria cook with the Bracken County Board of Education, and a member of Concord United Methodist Church, Brooksville. Her husband, Marvin Thomas Brown, died in 1981.
Survivors include daughters, Patricia Boggs, Brenda Free and Jenny Brown, all of Brooksville, and Pam Stoltz of Lexington; a sister, Aldina Wood of Brooksville; a brother, Corlis Earl Honan of Germantown; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Moore and Parker Funeral Home, Brooksville. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Concord Cemetery, Brooksville. Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice.
Robert Lee Bryant, 62, Burlington, died Wednesday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence.
Arrangements are pending at Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Covington.
Patricia Cade, 59, of Alexandria, died at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday at St. Luke Hospital East, Ft. Thomas.
Arrangements are pending at Alexandria Funeral Home, Alexandria.
Dianne M. Dietz, 44, of Erlanger, died Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood, after a lengthy illness. Survivors include her father and stepmother, Fred and Marian Dietz Jr. of Erlanger; a sister, Sandra Morgan of North Canton, Ohio; stepsisters, Carol Wim hoff of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Jan Ramler of Elsmere; and brothers, Fred Dietz III and Jerry Dietz, both of Erlanger, and John Dietz of Cincinnati.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Henry Church, Elsmere. Visitation will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger. Burial will be in St. John Cemetery, Ft. Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to St. Henry District High School Building Fund, 3837 Dixie Highway, Erlanger, Ky. 41018; or Erlanger-Elsmere Family Resource Center, Central Row, Elsmere, Ky. 41018.
W. Norman Drewry, 90, of Independence, died Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood.
Arrangements are pending at Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Covington.
Marian Gibbs Gripshover, 80, of Melbourne, Fla., formerly of Covington, died Monday at Holmes Regional Hospital in Melbourne, Fla. She was a retired secretary for Office Supply Company in Watertown, Mass. Survivors include sons, David F. Gripshover of Richmond, Va., Gerald Gripshover of Matteson, Ill., and Jonathan C. Gripshover of Eldersburg, Md.; a daughter, Mary Ellen Giesler of Melbourne, Fla.; a brother, Donald E. Gibbs of Melbourne, Fla.; a sister, Jean Atkinson of Cedarville, Ohio.; and five grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church of Melbourne. Visitation will begin there at 1 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Florida Memorial Gardens, Rockledge, Fla. Florida Memorial Funeral Home, Rockledge, is handling arrangements.
Doris Martin, 64, of Covington, died Wednesday at her home.
Arrangements are pending at Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Covington.
Patrick L. Pellillo, 74, of Villa Hills, died Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. He and his wife owned Martha's Catering Service, Villa Hills.
Survivors include his wife, Martha Pellillo; sons, Patrick Pellillo and Steve Pellillo, both of Louisville; stepsons, Ron Crone and Dan Crone, both of Erlanger; daughters, Benita Chapman of Fairfield, Ohio, and Kathy Kampe of Edgewood; sisters, Mildred Alessandro of Cincinnati and Antoinette Schmitt of Ft. Thomas; and nine grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Erlanger. Memorials are suggested to Hoxworth Blood Center, P. O. Box 193713, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219.
Pauline Powell, 88, of Cincinnati, formerly of Falmouth, died Tuesday at Salem Parke Care Center in Cincinnati.
Survivors include a sister, Cecilia Ellis of Covington; and a brother, Kenneth Powell of Cincinnati.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at T. P. White and Sons Funeral Home, Cincinnati. Visitation will begin there at 12:30 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Erlanger.
Hannah Weber Rodamer, 93, of Apopka, Fla., formerly of Boone County, died Tuesday at her home.
Survivors include her husband, Lawrence Rodamer.
Services are pending in Florida. Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Hebron, is handling local arrangements.
Gary Wayne Ruth, 37, of Frankfort, was found dead Monday in his home. He was a tree trimmer and a Wal-Mart employee.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Raisor Ruth; a stepson, Jamie Gaines of Frankfort; a daughter, Bonnie Sue Ruth of Frankfort; a stepdaughter, Anna Gaines of Frankfort; and sisters, Wilma Smith and Connie Prather, both of Owenton.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today at McDonald Funeral Home, Main Street location, Owenton. Burial will be in Monterey Cemetery, Owen County. Memorials are suggested to the family.
William V. Smith, 86, of Warsaw, died Wednesday at his home after an extended illness. He was the former owner and operator of Valley View Service Center, Warsaw. His wife, Stella Smith, died in 1985.
Survivors include daughters, Rosie Navarro, Margaret Pritchett, Teresa Holt and Renee Wood, all of Warsaw; sons, Marvin Smith and Ronney Smith, both of Warsaw; 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
No services are planned. Burial will be in Burlington Cemetery. Carlton-Lowder Funeral Home, Warsaw, is handling arrangements.
Harvey Wegford, 72, of Covington, died at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. He was a cook and a World War II Army veteran.
Survivors include several nieces and nephews.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Highland Cemetery, Ft. Mitchell. Burial will also be in Highland Cemetery.
Mary E. Williams, 87, of Covington, died at 6:56 a.m. Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. She was a homemaker and a member of Calvary Baptist Church, Latonia. Her husband, Robert Lee Williams, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, Charles Lee Williams of Bowling Green, Fla.; daughters, Dolores Stewart of Walton and Geraldine Slayback of Dry Ridge; a sister, Rita Oliver of Elsmere; 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Swindler and Currin Funeral Home, Latonia. Burial will be in Owenton Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice.
