Mildred Caldwell Kerr of Houston, TX, peacefully passed from life to eternal life everlasting on Tuesday, May 20, 2014, six years to the day after the death of her beloved husband of 65 years, Baine Perkins Kerr.
She was born June 18, 1919, in St. Louis, MO, and moved soon after to San Antonio, TX, where she loved growing up.
Following her graduation from Jefferson High School, she received her B.A. from the University of Texas, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. While there, she met the love of her life, Baine, of Houston, whom she married at Elmhurst, the Caldwell ancestral home in West Virginia, in June 1942. Following his discharge from the Marine Corps in 1946, they made Houston their home.
Mildred was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian church and a devoted member of The Garden Club of Houston. She was a wonderful and fun friend to many, even having first dog, Millie, named after her by longtime neighbors and friends, Barbara and George Bush. Mildred loved Kerplunk, the peaceful retreat in the Texas hill country that she and Baine built in the 1970s. In her later years, she enjoyed returning with family to the Greenbrier Valley in West Virginia, where her parents and ancestors lived since the 1830s. She also loved to go to the Houston Country Club to see all of her old friends. In addition, she valued her new friends at The Buckingham, where she resided for the last 10 years.
Her faith, care for others, and youthful spirit are a great example for all of us to follow. We will miss her sense of humor, her singing and dancing to Hank Williams and Kris Kristofferson, her passion for movies and flowers, and her high kicks.
Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, Baine; parents, Mary and James Caldwell; and sister, Mary Bell Browning.
She is survived by her sons, Baine Jr. of Boulder, CO, John and wife, Susan, of San Antonio, and Rob and wife, Mimi, of Houston; daughter, Mary Winters and husband, Bill, of Houston; 13 grandchildren, Baine Kerr, Dara Kerr, Brewster Kerr and wife, Jennifer, Caldwell Kerr, Jeff Kerr and wife, Lindy, Millie Kerr, Caroline Kerr and husband, Andy Lusk, Isabel Schulte and husband, John, Lucy Kerr, Sophie Kerr, Gracey Winters, Will Winters, and Mary Kerr Winters; great-grandchild, Cooper Kerr; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family is thankful for the wonderful care Mildred received from her devoted caregivers, Sandra Cossio, Tomasa Orellana, Amie Robinson, and Ledonna Williams.
A memorial service will be conducted at 2 PM on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in the sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church, 5300 Main Street, Houston, where Dr. Bill Heston, executive pastor, is to officiate.
Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the fellowship hall.
Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private service at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.
In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions may be directed to The Greenbrier Historical Society and North House Museum, 301 West Washington Street, Lewisburg, WV 24901; First Presbyterian Church Houston, 5300 Main Street, Houston, TX 77004; or The Garden Club of Houston, 4212 San Felipe, PMB486, Houston, TX 77027.
Geo. H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home in Houston is in charge of arrangements.
Obituary originally published in the May 27, 2014 edition of the West Virginia Daily News.
