James Frank "Jim" Kerr, 82

ELKRUN TOWNSHIP – James Frank "Jim" Kerr, educator, conservationist, and inspiration to many, passed away peacefully Tuesday morning, March 26, 2024, following a lengthy illness. He was 82.

Born in Clarion, Pennsylvania, August 19, 1941, he was a son of the late William J. and Sarah Kerr. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Jim returned home and studied biology at Point Park College in Pittsburgh and graduated in 1970. He earned a Master of Education from Kent State University in 1976 and pursued additional course work at many other universities including the University of Maine, Miami University, Case Western Reserve and Youngstown State. In 1971, Mr. Kerr was hired as a biology teacher at Beaver Local High School and for the next three decades he became a cornerstone of wisdom and mentorship for generations of young minds both in and out of the classroom. His rapport with students was incredible, his work ethic was immeasurable, and his passion for the outdoors and wildlife was unsurpassed. His classroom was packed with mounted wildlife and examples of nature that inspired many students and he took full advantage of the teaching opportunities presented by Beaver Local's wooded acreage and proximity to Beaver Creek.

Upon his retirement from Beaver Local, he moved his extensive personal collection of animal mounts to what would become the Beaver Creek Wildlife Education Center at Beaver Creek State Park. What began as a storage area in an empty park house blossomed into one of the largest wildlife collections in the State of Ohio. With his beloved wife Becky by his side, they were the first of many volunteers to develop and operate the center that features specimens, live snakes and turtles, a live honeybee display, a bird egg display, rocks, minerals, shells, a discovery room and a wildlife and bird viewing room. He had a passion for educating the public on wildlife, natural resources and conservation and would often conduct workshops and give tours of the center. Jim volunteered over 16,000 hours at the center and secured grants, donations, and funds to design and build a large addition.

While teaching at Beaver Local, Jim also taught in the Biology Department at Youngstown State University. After retiring from Beaver Local in 2000, he worked for the Columbiana County Educational Service Center and the Mahoning County Educational Service Center, and later taught Human Anatomy and Microbiology at the Ohio Valley College of Technology. His summers were filled with traveling as well as working as a Naturalist with the National Audubon Society at Hog Island, Maine.

He was associated with countless community, wildlife and conservation organizations, including the Little Beaver Creek Natural History Society, the Grant Cook Bird Club, the Youngstown Nature Club, the Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River Advisory Council and Friends for the Preservation of Ohio State Parks. He earned many awards for teaching and was recognized for his volunteer efforts. In 2022, Jim was inducted into the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Hall of Fame as well as the Ohio State Senior Citizen Hall of Fame.

In May, 2022, he was preceded in death by his loving wife and best friend, Rebecca "Becky" Kerr. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, William and Harold Kerr.

He is survived by his sister-in-law, Dorothy Kerr, three brothers-in-law, Jay Quillen, Robert Quillen, and Victor Quillen, and thirty-five nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life Service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 1, 2024 at Beaver Local High School.

Jim will be laid to rest with Becky at North Lawn Cemetery in Canton. Funeral arrangements are by the Dawson Funeral Home.

The family would like to thank the staff at CrossRoads of Beaver Creek and AESCO/Hospice for their kindness and the exceptional care they provided Jim during his stay and in his final days.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Rebecca and James Kerr Scholarship, in care of and payable to the Beaver Local Schools Foundation, P.O. Box 2503, East Liverpool, Ohio 43920. Memo "Kerr Scholarship".