Bobby Gene Kerr

Bobby Gene Kerr died peacefully on September 1, 2021, at his home in Wimberley Texas at the age of 88. He led a life full of adventure and travel, but his first love was for his family.

Bob was born in Amarillo, Texas to Hardy and Bernice Kerr. At age 8, during World War II, he moved with his parents and sister to Los Angeles. He played trumpet in the orchestra and Sheriff Boy’s Band and played football as well. The family returned to Texas after high school, stopping in Clayton, New Mexico to homestead, where they built a rock cabin by hand. Bob continued on to SMU in Dallas where he made six lifelong friends, who met annually for many years. The summer after graduation, Bob walked six weeks into the Amazon jungle of Peru doing geology for Cerro de Pasco. He then obtained his master’s degree at Colorado School of Mines.

In 1959, Bob married Mariana Duff and they had 62 beautiful years of marriage. They were blessed with three children: Gregory, born in 1961, Margaret, in 1962, and Thomas, in 1963. Bob spent four years in Corpus Christi with Texaco. In 1971, the family started a memorable experience by moving to Dakar, Senegal, West Africa for a wonderful three years. Bob enjoyed visiting the seismic crews on the Sahara Desert, walking, and finding artifacts in the sand. He spent two interesting days in the ancient sandy town of Timbuktu. On another occasion, their Beaver pilot lost radio navigation signals and had to land on a ragged and very remote sand dune. A group of nomads appeared, and Bob triangulated their position with a map and the nomads pointed in the direction of towns far away. The next morning, with one chance, the pilot took off safely. While living in Dakar, Bob and his family flew to Nairobi and went on safari to Kenya and Tanzania, visiting five game parks, with Bob driving a zebra striped van.

Bob was assigned to Lisbon, Portugal for two more interesting years. Returning to Houston in 1976, he worked for an oil exploration company. Business trips to Russia, Siberia, Ukraine, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Chile, and Peru, fueled his adventurous nature. He later formed Kerr Geophysical Company.

Before and after retirement, Bob and Mariana made annual trips to Europe, driving through villages, cities, and countryside in almost every country. They also made many stateside road trips and were proud that in their lifetimes they had visited all 50 states. Bob was always ready to travel, right up to the time his health prevented it. He was a Presbyterian for sixty years, a Church Elder and Sunday school teacher.

Bob was a music lover, from classical to country, and listened to classical music in his Houston office. He loved reading and often read two books at the same time. He also enjoyed playing golf, fast walking, and hiking. His other hobbies included working outdoors, improving his property, maintaining a large vegetable/fruit garden, and just fixing things. Bob enjoyed challenges and proved to be strong and brave in his final years. He was a man of few words, choosing them wisely, and was bright and witty, with a quiet demeanor.

Bob is survived by his wife Mariana, children Greg, Margaret, Tom, and as “Poppy” to granddaughter Diana Plymell, and 4 grandsons, Anthony, Jack, Casey, and Wyatt Kerr.

Bob led a full, adventurous life, and his legacy will guide us.