Margaret Ruth Kerr

Margaret Ruth Kerr, age 96, formerly of Oak Ridge, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 23, at Vitas Health Care Center in Stockbridge, Ga.

She was born June 10, 1916, in Absher, Mont., the daughter of Henry and Mary Jane Phillips Allan.

Mrs. Kerr retired from the University of Tennessee Agricultural Farm, where she was a librarian. She had also served as a board member of Clinch River Home Health Services.

She was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church and served as a volunteer for the Recording for the Blind, Campfire Girls and CONTACT. She played the piano for the Mello-Dears musical group and sang with the Sweet Adeline’s. She was an avid gardener and loved attending the wild flower shows in Gatlinburg.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husband, Alexander Robinson Kerr in 1978, and daughter, Cheryl Cooper in 2002.

She is survived by daughter, Janet Britt and husband Lloyd of Jonesboro, Ga.; sister-in-law, Ann Allan of Calif.; son-in-law, Phillip Cooper of Louisville, Ky.; four grandchildren, Andrea Autrey and husband Andy of Marietta, Ga., Chris Cooper and wife Lori, and Courtney Cooper and wife Trish, all of Louisville, Ky., and Sabrina Merritt Gerry and husband Dan of St. Louis, Mo.; five great-grandchildren, Joseph Autrey and wife Lydia, Beth Autrey, Katie Cooper, Lizzie Cooper, and Amelia Cooper; one great-great-grandson, Leeland Weathers; and a host of nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, Jan. 27, from 5–7 p.m. at Weatherford Mortuary.

The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Stella Roberts officiating. The burial will follow at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.

The family asks that any memorials be made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, 14 Pennsylvania Plaza, Suite 1710, New York, NY 10122.

An online guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.