Orville E. "Bud" Kerr

To join the livestream of Bud's funeral service, please select the link below. The livestream broadcast will begin Friday morning, December 6, 2024, at 10:55 A.M. and will be archived for 90 days following the service for later viewing. https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTczMzM1MDkwNzMzOTg4MyZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw== Orville E. “Bud” Kerr, age 88 years, a resident of Mt. Vernon, Illinois and a former resident of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, passed away Tuesday afternoon, December 3, 2024, at 1:46 P.M. at his home. Bud, as he was affectionately known to family and friends, was born June 26, 1936 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He was the son of Marvin Kerr and Floy B. (Jackson) Kerr. Bud is survived by: Jeanne Larrison, along with her son, Tracy Larrison; a son – Michael Kerr; 2 daughters – Tracey Kerr and Jennifer Williams; 5 grandchildren – Jared Morris, Lori Kay Pratt, Dakota Williams, Seth Williams and Noah Williams; several great grandchildren; a sister – Virginia Lee West; and his beloved canine companion – ‘Jake.’ Bud was preceded in death by: his father and stepmother – Marvin & Louise Kerr; Mother – Floy Kerr, the mother of his children – Barbara Crawford-Kerr; paternal grandparents – Orpheus and Pearl Kerr; and aunts – Frances Kerr, Lucille Davis, and Nell Ruff. Bud was a graduate of Washington Grade School and attended Cape Central High School in Cape Girardeau for his freshman and sophomore years. He graduated high school in Las Vegas, Nevada. Following his high school graduation, Bud enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served from 1955-1957 and was honorably discharged with the rank of Specialist 3rd Class. Upon his discharge from military service, Bud began working for the Illinois Power Company in Galesburg, Illinois. He began his working career as a design draftsman and later advanced to the position of gas superintendent. During the infancy of computers, Bud wrote a number of computer software programs for Illinois Power. His working career took him to Champaign, LaSalle, Decatur, Centralia and finally to Mt. Vernon, prior to his retirement. Finding that retirement didn’t suit him, Bud worked as an appliance salesman at Sears in Mt. Vernon. He also worked as a cellular phone representative at the Mt. Vernon Verizon store before accepting the position of store manager at the Hucks Travel Center, also in Mt. Vernon. Bud was a member of the Masonic fraternity and had served as the worshipful master of Decatur Masonic Lodge # 8 A.F. & A.M. He was also a member of the Goshen Trail Long Rifle Club. Bud had a brilliant mind and excelled at a number of interests and skills. He was talented in home design and construction, particularly in the early building phases. His passion for building, as well as woodworking, lead him to become an avid collector of tools. He also crafted small furniture pieces. Bud enjoyed music, particularly guitars, although he didn’t play the guitar himself. He did play first chair trumpet in high school as well as playing in a band during his residency in Las Vegas. Bud also restored classic tractors, enjoyed horseback riding as well as motorcycling. He also designed and built an amateur radio which he used for many years. In later years, he took a keen interest in art and painting. He began taking art lessons from Noel Smith. Together, they founded the first art guild in Jefferson County. Bud was a member of the First Baptist Church in Woodlawn, Illinois. Bud’s greatest purpose in life, however, was eating chocolate covered peanuts. A service honoring the life of Orville E. ‘Bud’ Kerr will be conducted Friday morning, December 6, 2024, at 11 A.M. at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna, Illinois Pastor Bryan Fuller, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Woodlawn, will officiate. Burial will be in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, east of Buncombe, Illinois. Those attending the service are invited to gather at the funeral home at 10:30 A.M. Friday morning, December 6, 2024. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter, 805 West DeYoung Street, Suite B., Marion, IL 62959 or to the Jefferson County Animal Shelter, 107 East Perkins Ave., Mt. Vernon, IL 62864.

Orville E. "Bud" Kerr

June 26, 1936 - December 3, 2024