Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Kerr, Rose Ann (Montgomery) July 12, 2024 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Patricia Currigan currigan1932@concast.net September 21, 2024, 7:09 pm Ionia Shopper's Guide-Saturday July 22, 2024 KERR Rose Ann Kerr, 79, of Ionia, reunited with her loving husband in Heaven on Friday,July 12, 2024. She was born June 7, 1945 in Ionia, the daughter of Lucille (Donner) and Bud Montgomery. She was the baby sister of six children. Her siblings were very protective of her and they all remained very close throughout their lives.She was especially close to many nieces and nephews that she cared for in their younger years. Rose met the love of her life, a military man with three young boys, in 1965. She described the moment as "love at first sight". They married on April 17, 1965. They bought their first home on Johnson Street in 1966. She started an Adult Foster care Home which gave her the ability to work from home while being able to care for her children. Along with Jimmy, mike and Allen, they welcomed Steven in 1966, Mary Ann in 1971, and Melissa in 1979. Rose operated her AFC home for over 45 years and was the recipient of the Governor Award in 2000.Rose was compassionate about helping people and her kindness and love shined through the many families she cared for over the years. Rose was a fun person to be around and she enjoyed life.She loved to dress up for holidays and be a part of any time spent with her family. She enjoyed going to Las Vegas, Bingo, playing cards, going to yard sales, flea markets, shopping of any kind, camping and the outdoors.She loved dancing and music, especially Elvis. Rose loved spending time with her sister and brother and the monthly cousin gatherings that would bring her back to her childhood. Rose was a very devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt. She was a positive role model and passionate about instilling family values and family traditions. She showed the women how to be strong and kind loving mothers and the men to be hard-working loving and loyal providers. She taught them all how to power shop, get te best deal, shop a clearance rack and save money. She was more than just a mother and grandma; she was a friend. Nothing gave her more joy than spoiling her family by cleaning their homes and toy rooms, mating their socks, giving special gifts, cooking for parties, and showing love. We will never forget her famous advice about the "Birds and the Bees" and the kids will always know to wear their hats, socks, and gloves. Rose leaves behind a legacy that cannot be matched.She loved with all her heart.She fostered a life of giving and loving. She was the first to volunteer to help and the last to quit. She also enjoyed volunteering at the Ionia Hospital.Anyone who met her quickly became family, She touched so many hearts by making her home open to anyone who needed a safe place to stay or a hot meal to enjoy. She adopted many of her children and grandchildren's friends as her own. Many of these people still refer to her as mom and grandma today. Despite her many hardships in life; a family house fire, a tragic car accident when she was just a teenager leaving her immobile for over a years, losing three sons, having to care for her husband who developed a brain injury and Parkinson's Disease for over 21 years, and many serious health conditions of her own, she never complained and remained strong for her family and was a fighter to the end. Preceding Rose in death are her husband James, sons James Jr., Michael and Allen, grandson, Steven Michael Jr., great-grandson, Ryder Vance,Bud and Bradley (Scotty) Montgomery, sisters, Esther Marie and Beverly Minaker, mother and father-in-law, Mary and Andrew Kerr, brother-in-law's Raymond Kerr, Garland Morgan and Casey Croff, sister-in-law, Alice Montgomery and nephew, Jimmy Montgomery. Surviving are her children, Steven Kerr, Mary Ann (Michael) Owen, and Melissa (Steve) Barber, Grandchildren Michael Kerr, Christopher(Krista)Kerr, Courtney Vance, Dalton and Zackary Kerr, Matthew Denslow, Andrew (Karlee) and Maycee (Bryce)Ray, Steven,Makenzie and Carson Barer. Great-grandchildren,Chloe, Remi, Brynlee, Siler, Barrett, James, Ellee and Greyson. Siblings, Barb (Maynard) Helmer, Barb Montgomery, and Billie Montgomery. In-laws, Barb Morgan, Andrew (Becky) Kerr, Carolyn Kerr, Valerie (Fred) Gave, David (Cindy) Kerr, Debbie Artis, Velma Croff and her fur babies, Bear and Rosie. Funeral services officiated by Pastor Marilyn Danielson at Lehman Funeral Home on Friday, July 19th at 4 pm. A gathering followed at the Ionia Moose. Feel free to wear purple in honor of Rose's favorite color. The family received friends and family on Thursday, July 18th from 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm at Lehman Funeral Home, 220 Rich Street, Ionia Mi 48846. Online Condolence may be made at lehmanfuneralhomes.com File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/k/kerr48268nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 5.3 Kb