Helen Kerr Obituary

Helen Kerr, beloved mother, grandmother, and faithful servant of God, passed away peacefully on July 16, 2025, at the age of 87 in Cottonwood, Arizona.

Born on September 22, 1937, in Wanda, Minnesota, Helen grew up with deep-rooted values of faith, family, and hard work. She graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1956 and married the love of her life, Walter Joseph Kerr, on November 7, 1959. Together, they shared a life full of love, laughter, and devotion to each other and their family.

Helen is survived by her three children: Steven Kerr (Jayleen), Colleen Kerr, and Sheila Beeler (Mark); and her cherished grandchildren: Logan and Tyler (Steven), Morgan, Mikey, and Shelby (Colleen), and Brendan and Taylor (Sheila) and 9 Great-Grand Children. Her family was her greatest pride and joy, and she gave each of them unconditional love and steadfast support.

Helen’s life was a testament to faith and service. A devout Catholic, she attended daily Mass, prayed the Rosary faithfully, and joyfully served her parish by working in the church gift store and helping count donations every Monday morning as long as possible. Her love for the Lord was quiet yet powerful, expressed through acts of kindness and a heart full of compassion.

She brought the same spirit of care and diligence to her many roles over the years: from her early days at Woolworths, to co-owning Walt’s Bar, to bookkeeping at the Canyon Dairy Farm. Later, she worked as the Substitute Coordinator for Cottonwood-Oak Creek schools and brought warmth to the Cornville community through her many years at Casey’s Corner.

Helen found joy in life’s simple pleasures—gardening and caring for her lawn, doing word searches, cheering on the Arizona Diamondbacks, and watching game shows. Her vibrant spirit and gentle strength left a mark on everyone who knew her.

Those closest to her will remember Helen for her unwavering kindness, her humble heart of gold, and her selfless nature. She was a loyal listener, a quiet warrior, and a woman who always put others before herself.

Helen is preceded in death by her husband, Walter, mother, Anna, father, Elmer, sisters Lucy and Martha.

Helen’s legacy is one of love, service, and grace. She will be deeply missed but forever remembered.

A celebration of Helen’s life will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cottonwood, Arizona on Saturday, August 2nd at 10 AM followed by a burial at the Cottonwood Cemetery and a light lunch at the church hall. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her memory to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.