Published: 10/03/02

Keene Valley — Bob Kerr, 61, of Market Street, Keene Valley, died unexpectedly following open-heart surgery on Friday, Sept. 20, 2002, at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center.

He was born on May 13, 1941, in Washington, D.C., the eldest of the two sons of Robert Morris Kerr of Duluth, Minn., and Marie Julia Anna Josephine DuGuay, of French-Canadian descent. He was predeceased by his father, who died at age 88 and also by his mother and younger brother, both of whom died at early ages from the hereditary heart condition which also affected Bob.

In 1996, Bob moved to Keene Valley with Alice (Penny/ Amie) Frances Morgan-Stebbins. Bob received a bachelor's degree in Rural Sociology from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.; attained his master's degree in Psychology at Radford College in Radford, Va; spent two years at the Virginia Episcopal Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Va; and earned his Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2001 from The Union Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is the author of a dissertation entitled "Just Water".

During his life, Bob lived in many different places, had an extraordinarily wide range of interests, and engaged in a myriad of professions. After his first year in college, Bob traveled to Japan and spent two months working with a group to build a conference center for the Episcopal Diocese of Kyoto. This exposure to Japanese culture had tremendous influence on him throughout his life. Bob was active in the American Civil Rights Movement and in the war on poverty. Among other things, he became a school psychologist, carpenter, a volunteer fireman, a genealogist, a waiter, a chef, a gardener and he traveled throughout the country. His life, in fact, was a spiritual odyssey.

He is survived by his life-partner, Penny Morgan - Stebbins; by her three children; by his first cousins, Mrs. Evelyn Deshaies, 83 and Mrs. Anita Briere, 81, both of Niagara Falls, Ontario; by their families; by his many friends; and by his neighbors in Keene Valley, where he became well-known and loved.

Bob was devoted to his life partner, Penny, and all who knew him knew that their love was at the heart of his life. A skilled and enthusiastic musician, he played the banjo and had a passion for bluegrass music. Always a man filled with humor, he was vigorous, vital, energetic, exuberant and creative. In his years with Penny, he utilized his skills as carpenter and gardener to work on their home, and on their beautiful vegetable garden.

A memorial service in celebration of his life will be held at Norton Cemetery, Keene, on Oct. 26, 2002, at 2 p.m. Celebrants will be invited to partake of the lovely vegetables Bob and his partner grew in their beloved garden.

In lieu of flowers, Penny requests that memorial donations be sent to Duval High School, Bluegrass Club, P.O. Box 67, Griffithsville, WV 25523.

Winter Harbor — Richard G. Trombley, Sr., 72, died peacefully, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2002, at his home.

He was born Oct. 7, 1929, in Morrisonville, N.Y., the son of Wilfred and Rhoda (Rock) Trombley.

Dick is survived by his wife of 51 years, Leola (Joy) Trombley of Winter Harbor, Maine; two sons, Michael Trombley and his wife, Jennifer of Portland, Maine, and Richard Trombley Jr. of Ellsworth, Maine; daughter, Ramona Trombley Sprague and her husband, Gerry of Winter Harbor; six grandchildren, Tricia, Justin, Michael, Ricky, Taylor and Maryah; two brothers, James Trombley and Patrick Trombley, both of Plattsburgh, N.Y.; two sisters, Shirley LaBarge of Morrisonville, N.Y., and Pam Neverett of Plattsburgh, N.Y.; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was predeceased by two brothers Carlton "Jiggs" Trombley and Gary Trombley.

Dick served in the U.S. Navy from Oct. 1947 until Aug. 1969. He was a civil service worker from 1974 until 1994 at the Winter Harbor Navel base. He was most recently working at the Winter Harbor gas station. Dick loved mowing his lawn and anyone else's lawn that needed it. He will be sadly missed by all.

Friends are invited to meet with the family for a time of sharing 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Bragdon-Kelley-Campbell Funeral Home, 47 Main St., Milbridge, where funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Thursday. Interment will be at the West Bay Cemetery in Gouldsboro with military honors.

Gifts in memory of Dick may be sent to the Richard Trombley Sr. Scholarship Fund, care of Bar Harbor Banking and Trust, P.O. Box 159, Winter Harbor, ME 04698.

A memorial register and directory are available online at Legacy.com.

Remie A. Defayette, 72, of Redford, N.Y., died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002.

He was born, June 8, 1930, son of the late Remie J. and Alice (Dupell) Defayette of Redford, N.Y. 

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