Alice Connelly Kerr

Alice Ann Freeman Connelly Kerr, born August 14, 1934 and passed away peacefully on November 20, 2020 surrounded by loved ones. Alice was born in Hamilton, Kansas in her parents’ farmhouse in the midst of a dust storm. This may have been the reason she was as tough as she has been for 86 years. Survived by daughter Megan Connelly, stepdaughter Brenda Humphrey (Dean) and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews and one great-great-great nephew. Preceded in death by her husbands John Connelly and Earl Kerr, mother Lydia Shields Freeman, father Henry Freeman, sisters Mary Ellen Jernigan (Derald) and Martha Ames (Bob), niece Heidi Jernigan Stanbrough and nephew Jeff Jernigan. Alice lived in Hamilton until age 7 when she moved to Concordia, Kansas. The family thrived in Concordia where her father was Mayor and they owned the town grocery store. She graduated from Concordia High School in 1952. Alice enjoyed going back to Concordia for every high school reunion up until 2018. Her and her high school friends enjoyed each other and shared so many stories. She then went to Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and received her Diploma in nursing in 1956. She worked in St Louis as a Labor & Delivery nurse. She married John in 1959 and moved to Denver, Colorado. She became a pediatric nurse and remained caring for kids for over 25 years. She inspired her daughter Megan to be a pediatric nurse. In 1988 they moved to Topeka, Kansas where Alice returned to Labor & Delivery and was a charge nurse. Several nurses and doctors comment on how much she taught and mentored them. John passed away in 1996 and she then married longtime friend Earl. She retired and moved back to Denver in 2000 where she stayed until she moved to Omaha to be closer to daughter Megan. Alice lived a joyous life. She very much enjoyed spending time with family and friends. She loved to send birthday cards to all of her family, shop with her great-nieces, go out to eat, play games, read, watch football, cheer for Creighton basketball and have an occasional cocktail of quality Scotch. In her final hours, she was able to listen to many tributes by family and friends. Her great-nephew Steve said it best when he said she was like the sunflowers she loves, always looking towards the light. She was always positive and never complained, even through a very difficult year. She will be missed by so many.