Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

Henry Kerby Kerr

Male 1911 - 1992  (80 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Henry Kerby Kerr 
    Born 9 Jun 1911  Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Business Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    James Morton Ltd. 
    Interesting military, business, volunteer 
    Military WW2 - Navy 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-163825 
    Died 17 Jan 1992  Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I163825  Generations
    Last Modified 28 Jan 2025 

    Family Dorothy Scott "Dot" Gibb,   b. 2 Jul 1912, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Feb 2013, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 100 years) 
    Children 
     1. Elizabeth Kerr
     2. Bette-Ann Babcock,   b. 15 Jan 1945,   d. 11 Jun 2005  (Age 60 years)
     3. Donald Kerr
    Last Modified 29 Jan 2025 
    Family ID F47740  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • 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

  • Sources 
    1. [S655] z Vit - ON - Birth Registration.
      Henry Kerby Kerr Date of Birth: 9 Jun 1911 Gender: Male Birth Place: Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada Father's name: J H S Kerr Mother's name: Alice J Morton #006282

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 9 Jun 1911 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBusiness - James Morton Ltd. - - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 17 Jan 1992 - Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth