Shirley Nelle Larson Kerr

Shirley Nelle Larson Kerr passed away at the age of 95, on February 15, 2023, with her family by her side. 

Shirley was born on December 9, 1927, in Houston, Texas to Herman Lenard Larson and Iila Millicent Eveland. She was the second of four children, older sister, Ida Marjorie Powers; younger sister, Hannah Carlee Bivens; and younger brother, Herman Donald Larson. She was raised in Cleveland, Tennessee and graduated from Bradley Central High School. She spent time as a kindergarten teaching assistant, and as a post office employee.

Shirley married Raymond Edward Kerr on June 2, 1946. She had 2 children, Bradley Martin Kerr and Elizabeth Gayle Kerr. She enjoyed her time at home with the kids and was a devout member of the First Lutheran Church of Cleveland, in Cleveland, TN. They attended regular worship services as a family and Shirley loved to sing hymns.

After the passing of her husband Eddie in 1997, Shirley moved to Layton, Utah to live with her son, Brad; daughter-in-law, Cindy; and their 3 daughters: Stacy, Jamie, and Debbi. We know she hated to leave her friends and family back in Tennessee, but she kept in close contact with them through daily phone calls and shared newspaper clippings in weekly letters. Shirley was also fortunate to have her sister, Margie, and niece (along with her husband and kids) also living in Utah.

We were lucky to have Shirley in our home growing up, and she enjoyed taking family vacations, camping trips, and being involved in not only the milestones of her granddaughters, but for the last 18 years, her great-grandkids too. 

Shirley made friends easily in the neighborhood and loved to tell stories. She had a great sense of humor and never lost her quick-wit, practical jokes, or her spit-fire comebacks.  

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Iila; her siblings; her husband, Raymond Edward Kerr; and both her children, Bradley Martin Kerr and Elizabeth Gayle Kerr.

Shirley is survived by her daughter-in-law, Cindy (Bradley) Kerr of Layton, Utah; granddaughters, Stacy (Jordan) Craw of Syracuse, Utah, Jamie (Jon) DeYoung of Syracuse, Utah, and Debbi Kerr of Layton, Utah; great-grandchildren: Lincoln, Alivia, Maui, Paxton, Macy, Kohen, and Lily; and for the last 2 years, bonus great-grandkids: Braden, Kaylie, Carter, and Emersyn. 

Shirley has spent the last several months at RainTree Assisted Living in Syracuse, Utah. We loved having her so close and that she was still excited and willing to come to all the family events. We are grateful for the staff that has helped care for her, at the Bountiful Life Center, RainTree Assisted Living, and while she was on hospice at home. 

Family and friends will celebrate her and her life on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Lindquist’s Syracuse Mortuary, 896 South 2000 West, Syracuse, Utah, with interment at the Hooper City Cemetery, 5290 South 6300 West, Hooper, Utah 84315.

Condolences may be shared at: www.lindquistmortuary.com

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