National Museum of Wildlife Art co-founder William G. "Bill" Kerr died Tuesday in Oklahoma City. He was 85. A full obituary is expected to appear in a future edition of the Jackson Hole News&Guide.
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Bill Kerr was one of four children born to Robert S. Kerr, famed Oklahoma businessman and politician who formed a petroleum company before serving as Oklahoma's 12th governor and eventually as a three-term U.S. senator.
Like his father, Bill Kerr was a giant of a man. Literally. Kerr stood 6-foot-7, and looked and sounded every bit like his idol Abe Lincoln.
Sue Simpson Gallagher, the museum's first curator and longtime board member, also knows a thing or two about tall men. Her father happens to be former U.S. Sen. Alan K. Simpson (also 6-7) of Wyoming.
"When Bill Kerr talked about how art is essential in everyone's life and that beauty should be shared, everyone got so excited and took ownership of the new museum. It started out as a community museum and it still is. There is nothing elitist about it," Simpson Gallagher said. "That was Bill and Joffa Kerr's goal. Because of the Kerrs' involvement in the art world, we had great shows right from the beginning."
Kerr is survived by his daughters, Kavar and Mara; god-daughter, Karla Keller; grandchildren, Ayla, Graycen and Whitney Mashburn; and great-granddaughters, Tyler Grayce, Caroline Blake and Aubrey Kate Mashburn.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial gifts be made to the National Museum of Wildlife Art, P.O. Box 6825, Jackson, WY 83002.
————————————————————————-
Bill Kerr was one of four children born to Robert S. Kerr, famed Oklahoma businessman and politician who formed a petroleum company before serving as Oklahoma's 12th governor and eventually as a three-term U.S. senator.
Like his father, Bill Kerr was a giant of a man. Literally. Kerr stood 6-foot-7, and looked and sounded every bit like his idol Abe Lincoln.
Sue Simpson Gallagher, the museum's first curator and longtime board member, also knows a thing or two about tall men. Her father happens to be former U.S. Sen. Alan K. Simpson (also 6-7) of Wyoming.
"When Bill Kerr talked about how art is essential in everyone's life and that beauty should be shared, everyone got so excited and took ownership of the new museum. It started out as a community museum and it still is. There is nothing elitist about it," Simpson Gallagher said. "That was Bill and Joffa Kerr's goal. Because of the Kerrs' involvement in the art world, we had great shows right from the beginning."
Kerr is survived by his daughters, Kavar and Mara; god-daughter, Karla Keller; grandchildren, Ayla, Graycen and Whitney Mashburn; and great-granddaughters, Tyler Grayce, Caroline Blake and Aubrey Kate Mashburn.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial gifts be made to the National Museum of Wildlife Art, P.O. Box 6825, Jackson, WY 83002.
National Museum of Wildlife Art co-founder William G. "Bill" Kerr died Tuesday in Oklahoma City. He was 85. A full obituary is expected to appear in a future edition of the Jackson Hole News&Guide.
————————————————————————-
Bill Kerr was one of four children born to Robert S. Kerr, famed Oklahoma businessman and politician who formed a petroleum company before serving as Oklahoma's 12th governor and eventually as a three-term U.S. senator.
Like his father, Bill Kerr was a giant of a man. Literally. Kerr stood 6-foot-7, and looked and sounded every bit like his idol Abe Lincoln.
Sue Simpson Gallagher, the museum's first curator and longtime board member, also knows a thing or two about tall men. Her father happens to be former U.S. Sen. Alan K. Simpson (also 6-7) of Wyoming.
"When Bill Kerr talked about how art is essential in everyone's life and that beauty should be shared, everyone got so excited and took ownership of the new museum. It started out as a community museum and it still is. There is nothing elitist about it," Simpson Gallagher said. "That was Bill and Joffa Kerr's goal. Because of the Kerrs' involvement in the art world, we had great shows right from the beginning."
Kerr is survived by his daughters, Kavar and Mara; god-daughter, Karla Keller; grandchildren, Ayla, Graycen and Whitney Mashburn; and great-granddaughters, Tyler Grayce, Caroline Blake and Aubrey Kate Mashburn.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial gifts be made to the National Museum of Wildlife Art, P.O. Box 6825, Jackson, WY 83002.
————————————————————————-
Bill Kerr was one of four children born to Robert S. Kerr, famed Oklahoma businessman and politician who formed a petroleum company before serving as Oklahoma's 12th governor and eventually as a three-term U.S. senator.
Like his father, Bill Kerr was a giant of a man. Literally. Kerr stood 6-foot-7, and looked and sounded every bit like his idol Abe Lincoln.
Sue Simpson Gallagher, the museum's first curator and longtime board member, also knows a thing or two about tall men. Her father happens to be former U.S. Sen. Alan K. Simpson (also 6-7) of Wyoming.
"When Bill Kerr talked about how art is essential in everyone's life and that beauty should be shared, everyone got so excited and took ownership of the new museum. It started out as a community museum and it still is. There is nothing elitist about it," Simpson Gallagher said. "That was Bill and Joffa Kerr's goal. Because of the Kerrs' involvement in the art world, we had great shows right from the beginning."
Kerr is survived by his daughters, Kavar and Mara; god-daughter, Karla Keller; grandchildren, Ayla, Graycen and Whitney Mashburn; and great-granddaughters, Tyler Grayce, Caroline Blake and Aubrey Kate Mashburn.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial gifts be made to the National Museum of Wildlife Art, P.O. Box 6825, Jackson, WY 83002.
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