Vickie Kerr

Vickie Lynn Kerr was a very loving, caring person, who demonstrated her affection in what she said and did. Her words instilled confidence and the time she spent with her family demonstrated how much she loved them.

Vickie’s story began at a time of national optimism, when America was recovering from WWII. Growth in industry and jobs gave workers the opportunity to build homes and start families that launched the baby boom era. Vickie was born to Weldon and Florence (Lydecker) Arseneau on August 27, 1946.

Vickie and her siblings grew up on a farm that raised horses, pigs, cows and chickens. It was an idyllic life, not only because of valuable life lessons learned on a farm, but because her parents were two of the nicest people anyone could meet. It was truly tragic when Vickie's dad died the very day he won his first tractor pull.

Vickie attended Catholic grade schools and graduated from Donovan High School. Like many teenagers at the time, she thrilled to the music and persona of Elvis Presley, a fascination she retained throughout her life. She also liked listening to country music, watching cooking shows, games shows like Wheel of Fortune, and soap operas such as All My Children, One Life to Live, and General Hospital. As an adult, she worked at Kroehler Manufacturing in Bradley.

On June 20, 1981, Vickie married Augustus S. Kerr at the Church of Christ in Martinton, Illinois. They were blessed with a daughter, Tammy, who fondly remembers her parents’ coffee “dates” at Hardee’s and their constant encouragement of her. They always told Tammy she was a good daughter.

When Vickie became a grandmother, she was really in her element. She had a reputation for being able to get fussy babies to sleep, and when her grandsons were older, Vickie played with them. She’d set aside her crossword puzzles and give her full attention to them. She loved the time she spent with her grandsons, and so did they.

When Vickie became ill, her grandsons returned the favor of time and attention. The boys stepped in and helped her with household chores. They, and all of Vickie’s family, will miss her greatly.

Vickie Lynn Kerr, 63, of Chebanse, Illinois, passed away Sunday May 9, 2010 at St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields. Vickie is survived by her daughter Tammy Kerr (fiance Deitrick Baines) of Chebanse; sisters Judith (Robert) Jividen of Lebanon, TN, Sharon (Kenneth) Bretveld of Cissna Park, Pamela (Tom) Thompson of Mt. Vernon and Karen (Bruce)Klipp of Manteno; brother Tennis (Lorraine)Arseneau of Chebanse; brother in law Edward Johnson of Watseka; close friend of the family Lindsay Parks of Bradley; grandsons Branden Alan Kerr and Ethan Jack Rose of Chebanse and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceeded in death by her husband who passed away November of 1999, her parents and a sister Sandra Johnson. Funeral services will be held at the Kankakee Chapel of Schreffler Funeral Homes, Thursday May 13, 2010 at 7:00 PM. A time for friends and family to gather will be from 3:00 PM until the 7:00 PM funeral service, Thursday, May 13, 2010 at the Kankakee Chapel of Schreffler Funeral Homes. Cremation rites will be accorded. To read Vickie's complete life story, watch her video, download a favorite picture or leave a memory, please go to Lifestorynet.com