Henry Kerby Kerr

Other Events:

• Business: Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; James Morton Ltd.
• Interesting: military, business, volunteer
• Military: WW2 - Navy
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-163825

Notes:

HENRY KERR 1912-1992

Married: Dorothy Gibb

A native of Toronto, Henry Kirby Kerr moved to Preston shortly before enlisting to serve in the navy during the Second World War. Following the war he moved to Hespeler where he started a business in his home. Over the next forty years that business, James Morton Ltd., grew into a continent wide company selling industrial products. Mr. Kerr demonstrated his dedication to his community as a member of the Hespeler Public School Board in the 1960's and in his volunteer work for the United Way. He died on January 17, 1992.

Source:Obituaries Cambridge Reporter Saturday January 18, 1992.

Cambridge Mosaic, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge [used with kind permission of Jim Quantrell]

__________________________

Henry Kerr started his business from his Hespeler home in the '40s

Cambridge has lost a dedicated community member and respected businessman, with the death of Henry Kerr, a longtime friend says. Mr. Kerr died Friday morning, at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, just three days short of a year, since he suffered a stroke, while vacationing in Florida. He was 80 years old. "He was dynamic," was the way Norman Moeller spoke of his former business partner and friend of more than 40 years. A native of Toronto, Mr. Kerr moved first to Preston before leaving to join the Navy during the Second World War. Then he started a business from the dining room table of his Hespeler home, in the late 1940s, that over a 40-year period, grew into a continent-wide company, selling industrial products. He sold his company, James Morton Ltd., which is now located on State Street, to three employees, in 1983. But Mr. Kerr was also known for his dedication to the community, particularly as a volunteer for the United Way. He was also a member of the First United Church and the Kiwanis Club and spent several years on the Hespeler school board, during the late 1960s. "He was a very effective person. No matter what he undertook to do he gave it all his strength," said Mr. Moeller, adding that he also had a great capacity to develop friendships. Mr. Moeller met his friend Henry, when he was a customer at his business. After becoming closer friends as members of the Kiwanis Club, they started a personnel agency together that ran for 21 years. Mr. Kerr is survived by his wife Dorothy, daughter Elizabeth and son-in-law Tom Robinson of Collingwood, daughter Betty-Anne and son-in-law John Gilbert of Kitchener, son Donald and daughter-in-law Sandy of Toronto and 10 grandchildren. A remembrance service will be held Monday at 2 p.m., at First United Church.

Cambridge Reporter 1992

Henry — Dorothy Scott "Dot" Gibb. Dorothy (daughter of Alexander Goldie Gibb and Annie Taylor McMurdo) was born 2 Jul 1912, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 13 Feb 2013, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Elizabeth Kerr
2. Bette-Ann Babcock was born 15 Jan 1945; died 11 Jun 2005; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
3. Donald Kerr