Katherine Kerr Kendall's Obituary
Emma Katherine Kerr Kendall was born on April 26, 1927 in Batesville, Arkansas and passed away January 7, 2017 in Denton, Texas. Katherine was the third of five children born to Earl Ward Kerr and Florence Jenkins Kerr. She moved to Dallas at the age of 5, attended Baylor University in Waco, graduated from Baylor Nursing School in Dallas, and later attended Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth. There she met her husband of forty years, Douglas Edward Kendall, when they were seated alphabetically in one of their classes. They were rarely apart. Doug and Katherine were Southern Baptist missionaries for fifteen years, serving first in Indonesia and later in Zambia, Africa. While in Zambia, they established the Baptist Publishing House where Katherine employed her artistic talents in creating cover designs for the publications. Honorariums in memory of her father’s death in 1964 led to the creation of the Bible Way Correspondence School which began as a five part study course for prisoners and later became instrumental in bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to over 70 countries around the world, touching millions of lives. In 1973, they returned to Dallas, Texas. Katherine renewed her nursing skills at Baylor Hospital, becoming a nurse recruiter, and later a supervisor dealing with some of the first AIDS patients in the area. She quietly shared her faith with people going thru times of crisis, telling them of her eternal hope in Christ, and His great love for them. In 1985, Katherine and Doug founded the Tree of Life Christian Book Store in the Lake Highlands neighborhood in Dallas. During this time, Katherine and Doug led many summer mission trips to Korea, Indonesia, and Brazil. Doug preceded her in death in 1994, and Katherine ran the bookstore until 1999 when she retired. She became involved with Bible Study Fellowship for the next seven years as a discussion group leader. In 2015, she moved to Good Samaritan Lake Forest in Denton where she lived out the remainder of her days as a prayer warrior. Throughout her life, Katherine employed her talents in the service and glory of her Lord, Jesus Christ. Her batik paintings were hung in the Zambian White House; she designed furniture, loved ceramics, cooking, sewing, and especially quilting. She was a woman of quiet but strong faith, a devoted wife who partnered with her husband in service, a loving mother and grandmother and a humble servant of her Lord. She is survived by her four sons and their wives: Glenn and Sandy Kendall of McKinney, Guy Kendall of Spokane, Gary and Diane Kendall of Richardson, and Greer and Susan Kendall of Coppell, eleven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, two sisters, Mary Beth Walker of Denton and Sarah Wilder of Dallas, and numerous nephews and nieces. Her family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers and asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the “Beauty Mulenga Nursing School Scholarship Fund” at http://familylegacy.com/kendallmemorial. Beauty is a young Zambian inspired by the death of her parents to AIDS to become a nurse. She and our mother made an instant connection when she visited Katherine in Denton earlier this year, and Katherine felt led to sponsor her nursing studies. Memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 12:00 Monday, January 16th, 2017 at First Baptist Church Dallas, 1701 San Jacinto, Dallas TX 75201, followed by a short graveside ceremony at Restland Cemetery in Dallas. Condolences, letters and cards may be sent to Kendall Family, 1910 Pacific Ave Suite 10000, Dallas TX, 75201.
What’s your fondest memory of Katherine?
What’s a lesson you learned from Katherine?
Share a story where Katherine's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Katherine you’ll never forget.
How did Katherine make you smile?