Barbara Kerrane

Major Barbara Kelly Kerrane passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at the age of 43. She is survived by her husband, Major Evan Kerrane, their two young children (Quinn and Lily), parents (Mike and Roberta Kelly), and sister (Charlotte Lewis).

Born in Lawton, OK into a military family, Barbara grew up between Fort Bragg, NC; West Point, NY; Fort Sill, OK; Washington, D.C; Panama; and Fort Lewis, WA. These early experiences had a profound effect on her, and she devoted her life to public service. After graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington, she became a City of Arlington TX police officer. While serving in the police department, Barbara completed a master’s degree from Norwich University, and earned her juris doctorate from Texas Wesleyan University Law School (now Texas A&M University School of Law). In 2008, Barbara, and her future husband, Evan, left the police department to join the U.S. Army.

Barbara entered the Texas National Guard as a Judge Advocate, serving at Camp Mabry, TX. She deployed to Basra, Iraq (2010-2011) with the Texas Guard, as a legal assistance attorney where she earned a Bronze Star Medal. Upon her return to Texas, she joined Evan in the Active Duty Army, assigned to Fort Hood, TX. The Army then took her to Fort Benning, GA where she served as the legal advisor at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), and became the trial council at 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. While in Georgia, Barbara completed her Master of Laws (L.L.M.) in Taxation from the University of Alabama.

The Army then took the family to Fort Sill, OK where Barbara became a defense council. Her final move brought her to the Washington D.C. area, where she had assignments at the Defense Council Assistance Program, Environmental Law Division, and the Army Victim Assistance Program. Barbara also earned her Master of Laws (L.L.M.) in Military Law from the Army JAG School in Charlottesville, VA.

Barbara adored her children, loved her dogs, was an avid runner, and enjoyed the serenity of yoga. She will be missed immensely, but her tenacity toward life, love of her friends and family, and selfless service to her country and community will live on in those who knew her.

A service for Barbara will be held at St. Luke’s Catholic Church,7001 Georgetown Pike in McLean, VA at 2:30 (1430) on the 22nd of April. An interment will follow at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers please donate to one of the following organizations, or a charity of your choice:

Organization for Autism Research (https://researchautism.org)

Fight Colorectal Cancer (https://fightcolorectalcancer.org)

International Rescue Committee (IRC) (https://www.rescue.org)

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.murphy-fh.com for the Kerrane family.