Jerry Karr

Services for former state senator Gerald “Jerry” Lee Karr, 83, who died Dec. 8 at the Holiday Resort in Emporia, were Tuesday.

He was born on Oct. 15, 1936, at Emporia, to Orren and Kathleen Keller Karr.

He married Sharon Kay Studer Oct. 18, 1959, in Manhattan. She died before him.

He worked in management of livestock operations in Illinois before beginning a career in higher education. He taught at Central Missouri State College, University of Illinois-Urbana, Njala University College in Sierra Leone, West Africa, and Wilmington College, Wilmington, Ohio. In 1976, he and Sharon purchased a farm near Emporia.

He is survived by his son, Kevin Karr of Emporia; daughter, Kelly Getty of Abilene; brothers, Robert Karr of Emporia, Mickey Karr of Americus, Marion Karr of Wiesbaden, Germany, and Dennis Karr of Indianapolis, Indiana; two sisters, Erma Jean Riley of Manhattan, and Colleen McKinney of Independence, Missouri; nine grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.

A brother, Steven Karr, preceded him in death.

Memorials are suggested to the Salvation Army of Emporia, YMCA Camp Wood, Emporia Kiwanis Club, or Americus Methodist Church.