James Bobby "Bob" Kerr

James Bobby “Bob” Kerr, age 91 of Knoxville, TN passed away Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at Parkwest Medical Center. Mr. Kerr was a member of Piney Grove Baptist Church. Bob was preceded in death by father Robert Bruce “Bob” Kerr, mother Bonnie Lockhart Morris, stepfather Henry Morris, brother Wayne Kerr, sister-in-law Shirley Waller Kerr and lifelong friend Luster “Luck” Brewer. Bob is survived by his loving wife Bernice Kerr, son Robert (Jane) Kerr, granddaughter McKenna, grandson Elijah, brother Gene (Sandy) Kerr, niece Kim Fennell, nephews Greg (Rhonda) Kerr, Chris (Debra) Kerr, Mark Voyles, Nicholas (Jill) McPherson and close friend Delores Brewer.

Bob’s inquisitive nature and active lifestyle drove his interests, spending an idyllic childhood surrounded by his brothers and friends, playing any game with a ball, floating hand-made rafts down First Creek and stringing crystals in the trees around their Walker Boulevard house to get better reception for the radios he built. Bob was a talented athlete, playing basketball and baseball at Central High School. After high school, Bob studied Business at the University of Tennessee. At 19 he became the manager of the Knoxville Drive-In, employing his little brother Gene and catching the attention of the love of his life, Bernice. The couple spent the early years of their marriage in Charleston, South Carolina, where Bob was a Hospital Corpsman in the Navy, continuing in the Navy Reserve for a total of 16 years of service. In civilian life, Bob became an Optician, working with several doctors before opening Medical Arts Optical in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, from which he retired. At home, Bob continued to employ skills of building, wiring, plumbing, gardening and enjoying operating a Ham Radio, while exploring artistic endeavors like drawing and painting. With son Robert, the couple enjoyed traveling widely and relaxing on the lake. Bob Kerr was a strong family man with an easy-going nature who worked hard to care for those he loved and in return earned the respect and admiration of many. He will be greatly missed.

The family is grateful to the Veterans Administration and the many kind caregivers who helped Bob during this transition.

The Kerr Family will receive friends Sunday, November 19, 2023, 2 – 4pm at Berry Highland Memorial, 5315 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN, 37919.

Memorial tributes be made in the form of charitable donations to Alzheimer's Tennessee 5801 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919 or https://www.alztennessee.org/