James Kerr

James (Jim) Francis Kerr- Obituary

Dad always said spending time with family and friends are the most important things in life so it’s fitting that he gently departed into the afterlife with his family by his side at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise, ID on August 20, 2025, at the age of 85.

Jim’s story began in Gloucester, Massachusetts on October 18, 1939, when he was the middle child of three sons born to Clinton and Florence Kerr. His adventurous spirit started in his early years when he developed a lifelong passion for ice hockey that spanned more than 60 decades, connecting Jim with his brothers Clinton and Tom and then later in life when Jim shared his love of hockey with his beloved grandson, Nick Cerchione.

At Gloucester High School, Jim joined ROTC with his older brother Tom and later graduated in 1957.

Jim spent two years driving the 128-state route between Gloucester and Boston before graduating with an associate’s degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology. After graduation, Jim was recruited by the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) in 1960 where he spent the next 48 years performing testing on nuclear cell reactors. At INEL, Jim met the love of his life and future wife, Margaret Valeri Kerr whom he married in 1966. Jim and Margaret brought two daughters into this world, Carla Marie in January of 1968 and Laurel Lee a year later in January of 1969.

Living across the country from his Gloucester roots, Jim drove east every summer to spend August in Gloucester with family. Jim’s niece, Amy, often traveled with the Kerr’s who stopped along their route to visit Margaret’s family in Pittsburg (Donora) Pennsylvania.

After his wife Margaret passed in June of 1979, Jim doubled his efforts to stay connected with both sides of his family. Five years earlier in 1974, Jim’s brother Clinton passed away of an unexpected heart attack during an ice hockey game in Gloucester, Massachusetts. This incident affected Jim deeply and he became a surrogate father to his brother’s young children, Scott, Bill, Kim, and Trina.

Jim loved the expansive Idaho wilderness and logged many adventures including winter downhill skiing, and summers climbing the Grand Tetons, hiking in the Frank Church Forest, and navigating the rapids of the Snake and Salmon rivers. Some of Jim’s fondest memories are when his extended family, including his nieces and nephews, joined him in Idaho on his legendary weeklong white water rafting trips on the Main Salmon River. After years of river running, Jim continued to explore new adventures that included sailing the Caribbean Islands with his family and friends.

In 2005, Jim reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Joan Brown Herrmann of Essex Massachusetts. Their 70-year friendship deepened while they explored the world together by cruise ships, riverboats, and railways. Traveling with Joan brought tremendous joy to Jim’s life.

In the later years after retirement from INEL in 2008, Jim’s global travels defined the last quarter of his life as he spent countless hours creating new memories with his family and friends.

No matter where he pursued adventures, Jim never forgot his roots or his family. He always returned to his home in Idaho and to his family in Gloucester where he loved to sail in the harbor, walk the boardwalk, chase the tide out at Wingaersheek Beach and cruise the idyllic back shore.

Jim’s grandchildren, Ella and Nick were the light of his life. One of the greatest joys of Jim’s life was watching Nick skate on ice hockey rinks. With Ella, Jim loved to watch her ballet concerts and soccer games. Later they shared a passion for flying while Ella pursued her private pilot’s license.

Jim is proceeded in death by his parents, Clinton and Florence Kerr, his wife, Margaret Valeri Kerr, his brother Thomas Kerr, his brother Clinton Kerr, and his nephew, Scott Kerr.

Jim is survived by his daughter Carla (Guy) Cerchione, daughter Laurel Jensen, and his grandchildren, Ella and Nick Cerchione.

Jim’s lifelong “chosen family” friends include Joseph Gasidlo (deceased) of Idaho Falls, ID, Robert Villareal (deceased) of Los Alamos, New Mexico, Richard and Susanne Wisner of Idaho Falls, ID and Donny “Twitch” Ross of Gloucester, MA. There are many others on Jim’s lifelong list of friends.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, September 4, 2025, at Buck-Murphy Funeral Home, 825 E. 17th Street, Idaho Falls, ID 83404. A Funeral Mass will take place on Friday, September 5, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1690 E 17th St, Idaho Falls, ID 83404. Burial will follow at the Idaho Falls Rose Hill Cemetery, 2355 Rollandet St, Idaho Falls, ID 83402. After the burial, a luncheon will be provided at Christ the King Catholic Church.

For online condolences, please visit www.buckmurphy.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.