J.C. Kerr

Wilson- Memorial Services for Mr. J.C. Kerr, 91, are scheduled for 9:30 am Friday, August 10, 2012 at the Hewitt Cemetery Pavilion at Wilson. Services are under the direction and care of Alexander Funeral Home of Wilson.

Born on April 25, 1921 in Dillard, Oklahoma to Bessie Marie (Harris) and Charles Washington Kerr, J.C. Kerr was next to the youngest of nine children. He passed away on May 23, 2012. J.C. was preceded in death by his mother on April 16, 1932, his father on December 14, 1967, and his eight siblings—Clorine, Ethel, Jewell, James, Sadie Ann, Spurgeon, Charles and Patric. A daughter, Elizabeth Ann Kerr, also preceded him in death on September 13, 2010.

J.C. attended Ambrose Ward Elementary School and went on to graduate from Wilson High in 1939. He joined the U.S. Navy in the fall of 1939. After training he was assigned to the battleship USS Washington and saw duty with the British Home fleet based in the Orkney Isles north of Scotland, and then in the Pacific around Guadalcanal. J. C. had a burning desire to be assigned to submarines; finally, in 1943 his twenty-sixth request for transfer to the submarine service was approved. After submarine training he was assigned to the USS Dace and completed five patrol missions in the Pacific before World War II ended. After the war J.C. remained in the Navy as an instructor in the submarine engineering school and was subsequently one of the first twelve naval personal selected to attend the Naval Atomic Energy School. J.C. was one of the crew on the maiden voyage of the first U.S. nuclear submarine, the USS Nautilus, on January 7, 1955. He retired from the Navy in 1959 as a Master Chief Engineer.

J.C. met his future wife, Billie Sue Potts, when he returned to Wilson for Christmas in late 1945. They were married on May 22, 1946 in Wilson in the old wooden Baptist church where they were members. Billie and J. C. had four children--the twins, Sallye and Jennye (born on November 30, 1948), William Stuart "Bill" (born on May 12, 1954) and Elizabeth (born on November 15, 1959).

After retiring from the Navy J.C. continued in the nuclear industry, working for Aerojet General Nucleonics in Idaho, for New York Shipbuilding constructing nuclear naval vessels in Camden, New Jersey, and finally for Westinghouse International building nuclear power plants. While with Westinghouse he and Billie lived in Switzerland, Japan, Yugoslavia, Brazil and Korea. After living overseas for twenty years J. C. retired in 1983; he and Billie lived first on their farm in Meridian, Idaho, and then enjoyed traveling in their motor home for a couple of years before returning to their roots in Oklahoma in 1988.

While in Wilson J. C. became a very accomplished woodworker—the home he and Billie shared holds many pieces created by him. He was a lifetime member of the Wilson Historical Society and spent countless hours volunteering at the Museum. In 2003 in recognition of his contributions J.C. was named the first recipient of the "Friend of the Museum" award. He and Billie are members of the Wilson First Baptist Church.

J.C. is survived by his wife of 66 years, Billie Sue; three children, Sallye Sue Prenger and her husband, Tom, of Spokane, Washington; Jennye Lu Kerr of Rupert, Idaho; and Bill Kerr and his wife, Julie Reahard, of Santa Fe, New Mexico; six grandchildren, Abigail Weichman and her husband, Chris, of Clovis, New Mexico, Dimity Prenger of Olympia, Washington, Molly Prenger of Spokane, Andrew Prenger of Spokane, Michelle Meininger of Nampa, Idaho and Alex Meininger, of Nampa; and three great grandchildren Ruby, Gracie and Tyson Weichman, of Clovis, New Mexico.

Donations may be made in honor of J.C. to the Wilson Historical Museum 1270 8TH St. Wilson, Ok 73463.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.alexanderfuneralhome.org