Final Salute

John Smith Kerr (better known as Junior Kerr), 94, passed peacefully on Thursday, July 13, 2023. John was born June 22, 1929 to John Leishman Kerr and Hazel Kilfoyle Smith on the family farm in Wellsville, Utah. During his childhood years he got dubbed with the “Junior” moniker and it stuck for nine decades.

Junior lived most of his life in Wellsville. He graduated from South Cache High. Junior began working in the construction industry as a heavy equipment operator in 1949.

In the summer of 1950, Junior met an Idaho “Spud” by the name of Carol Dawn Wakley. He was smitten by the Bannock county rodeo queen. The Korean War had begun in June of ’50 and by September Junior had orders to report for service in the United States Navy. Carol and Junior were married on the 22nd of September and he reported for basic training in San Diego the next week.

Junior was deployed to Japan as a “Seabee” heavy equipment operator in support of the Korean conflict. He served in the Navy for nearly four years and received an Honorable Discharge in July ’54.

Junior and Carol returned to Wellsville to raise their family. He spent the next 60 years working in the construction field.

Carol and Junior have four children (Don, Scott, Shauna, and Michael) and 13 grandchildren with a growing number of great-grandchildren. Junior was preceded in death by his parents and his five siblings.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, July 25, at 11:00 am at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E Center St, Logan. A viewing will be held prior from 9:30-10:30 am.

Condolences and memories may be expressed online at www.allenmortuaries.com.

Published by Logan Herald Journal on Jul. 18, 2023.