Person Page - 221

     William Kerr was born circa 1842.¹ He was the son of Samuel Kerr and Ruth Piatt.¹

     William H. Kerr was born in 1872.¹ He was the son of Hiram S. Kerr and Susanna Serepta Lewis.¹

     William Reid Kerr married Anna Eliza McNally on 26 December 1900 at Taymouth, Saginaw Co., Michigan.¹ William Reid Kerr died on 21 August 1958 at Long Beach, Los Angeles Co., California.

     Sharon Rae Kershaw married Charles Dean Bukowski, son of Joseph Bukowski and Ellen Elizabeth Harn, on 24 February 1973 at Lorain Co., Ohio.¹

     Darnise Kester married Jeffery Harn, son of Raymond Eugene Harn and Lois Ferne Branson.

     William Lewis Ketch was born circa 1880 at Canada. He married Lena Luella Fellows, daughter of Adin Fellows and Viola A. Pettit, circa 1917.

     Earl Delos Ketcham was born on 1 September 1897 at Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan. He was the son of Harry B. Ketcham and Ida D. Mellons. Earl Delos Ketcham married Esther L. Palmer on 22 April 1920 at Grand Haven, Ottawa Co., Michigan. Earl Delos Ketcham and Esther L. Palmer were divorced on 28 June 1945 at Kent Co., Michigan. Earl Delos Ketcham married Zilpha Jane Clow, daughter of John Arthur Clow and Hattie B. Harn, on 7 September 1945 at Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan; State File Number:     41 36196. Earl Delos Ketcham died on 21 November 1970 at Kent Community Hospital, Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan, at age 73.¹ He was buried at Rosedale Memorial Park, Tallmadge, Ottawa Co., Michigan.^2,1

KETCHAM -

Earl D. Ketcham, aged 73, of Lowell, passed away Saturday in the Kent Community Hospital. He is survived by his wife, Zilpha; one son, John B. of Grand Rapids; four grandchildren; six step - grandchildren; one brother, Floyd M. of Alexandria, Minn. and two nieces. Mr. Ketcham reposes at the Roth Funeral Home in Lowell where friends may meet the family Monday evening 7 to 9. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. with Rev. F. Ervin Hyde officiating. Interment Rosedale Cemetery. Mr. Ketcham was associated with the C&O Railroad 42 years, member of the Lowell VFW No. 803 and the Ionia Barracks No. 1262 WWI.
The Grand Rapids Press (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Mon, Nov 23, 1970 ·Page 53.¹

     Harry B. Ketcham married Ida D. Mellons.

     James Arnold Key was born on 28 August 1942 at Columbia, Boone Co., Missouri.¹ He was the son of James R. Key Jr. and Frances Fern Merry. James Arnold Key married Edith Deloris Sullivan on 30 November 1978 at Centralia, Boone Co., Missouri. James Arnold Key died on 13 December 2000 at Centralia, Boone Co., Missouri, at age 58.¹ He was buried at Centralia Cemetery, Centralia, Boone Co., Missouri.¹ He lived on 1 August 2000 at Centralia, Boone Co., Missouri.

     James R. Key Jr. was born on 21 December 1917 at Monroe, Missouri. He married Frances Fern Merry, daughter of Anderson Hoyt Merry and Pearl Ada Fellows, on 6 December 1941 at Sacred Heart Rectory, Columbia, Boone Co., Missouri. James R. Key Jr. died on 2 August 1944 at Ionian Sea, Libya, at age 26. He was buried at Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England.¹ He ended military service on 29 August 1941. He began military service on 29 August 1941 at US Army Air Force.

Gunner S/Sgt. James R. Key DFC MIA/KIA
Hometown: Columbia, Mo.
Squadron: 329BS 93rd Bomb Group
Service # 37041316
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
Pilot Major Ralph J. McBride Jr. DFC MIA/KIA

Target: Concordia-Vega refineries (Ploesti)
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 41-24230
Aircraft Model B-24D-1-CO
Aircraft Letter: Z
Aircraft Name: Jo-Jo'S Special Delivery/Hare's to Ya
Cause: Fighters 11 MIA/KIA
Location: Lost - Shot down over Ionian Sea on return flight.

Flown by Major Ralph. J. McBride Jr. and crew along with an Observer on Aug 1, 1943 to Ploesti oil fields Rumania. Briefed to fly lead of the first element, second section bombing White III. Due to technical and crew problems they took off late. The aircraft is said to have never joined the formation. It is known that Mcbride joined a 98th Grp formation on withdrawal from the target. Jo - Jo'S Special were intercepted by IV/27 JG West of Cefalonia, Greece and presumed downed by Lt. Hans Flor of 11/27 JG.

Sgt. Key lost his life in "Operation Tidal Wave" one of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 93rd attacks the Concordia-Vega oil refinery. James R. Key was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for valor. The 93rd earns Presidential Unit Citation.

Sgt. James R. Key appears Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery Cambridge, England. His body was never recovered. The date of death on Cambridge wall reflects the date that Riddle was Officially pronounced KIA, a year and a day after going missing.

The crew of 41-24230
Maj. Ralph J. McBride Jr. Pilot
Maj. Ralph J. McBride Jr. Pilot
Capt. Harry Lee Jarvis, Jr Observer
Capt. Harry Lee Jarvis, Jr Observer
1st/Lt. James S. Huston Co- Pilot
1st/Lt. James S. Huston Co- Pilot
1st/Lt. James Monroe Gill Bombardier
1st/Lt. James Monroe Gill Bombardier
1st/Lt. Coy B. Ellison Navigator
T/Sgt. Carl A. Domke Engineer
T/Sgt. Carl A. Domke Engineer
T/Sgt. Stanley S. Krugel Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Gerald Burton Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. Wilbert L. Clifford Ball Turret
S/Sgt. James R Key, Jr Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. Alpheus H. Riddle Tail Gunner.



Service Cross Given Sergt. J. K. Key, Jr.

Staff Sergt. James R. Key, 3, of Columbia, who was reported by the United Press as having been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross Wednesday, had been overseas for about a year when he was reported missing in action on Aug. 15. He had been stationed in England, and was then transferred to the Middle East.
His wife, the former Miss Frances Fern Merry of near Clark, and their two children are living at 203 Melbourne Street. Key has two brothers in the army, John Elliot, stationed in Kentucky, and Leo, stationed in New Jersey.

Columbia Missourian (Columbia, Missouri)
Fri, Nov 19, 1943 ·Page 6.²

     Jo Ann Key was born on 9 June 1941 at St. Louis, City of St. Louis, Missouri.¹ She was the daughter of James R. Key Jr. and Frances Fern Merry. Jo Ann Key married Melvin Michael Bowling on 31 August 1958 at Macon, Macon Co., Missouri. Jo Ann Key married Harry Hall Slate on 20 October 1962 at Boone Co., Missouri. Jo Ann Key died on 2 August 2000 at University Hospital, Columbia, Boone Co., Missouri, at age 59.¹ She was buried at Columbia Cemetery, Columbia, Boone Co., Missouri.¹ She lived on 1 August 2000 at Columbia, Boone Co., Missouri.

     Carol Frances Keys married Robert Francis McCarthy, son of Francis Edward McCarthy and Olga Louise Borchert, on 19 May 1961 at St. Paul, Ramsey Co., Minnesota.

     Thomas Gray Kiakona was born on 19 March 1907 at Honolulu, Honolulu Co., Hawaii. He married Vivian Marguerite Havel, daughter of Edward Gregory Havel and Christina M. Aadral, on 14 March 1941 at Honolulu, Honolulu Co., Hawaii. Thomas Gray Kiakona and Vivian Marguerite Havel were divorced after 1952. Thomas Gray Kiakona died on 28 August 1966 at Honolulu, Honolulu Co., Hawaii, at age 59.

     Alfred J. Kiefer was born circa 1938 at Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York. He married Donna Marie Parks, daughter of Douglas Norbert Parks and Audrey Ann Houser, in 1975 at Washington.

     Vincent Grover Kightlinger was born on 20 August 1885 at Bradford, McKean Co., Pennsylvania.¹ He married Margaret Fulton Conwell, daughter of Nathaniel Ewing Conwell and Mary Jane Harn, on 31 July 1911 at Fayette Co., Pennsylvania. Vincent Grover Kightlinger died on 7 December 1961 at Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio, at age 76.¹ He was buried at Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Verango Co., Pennsylvania.¹

     Harry T. Kilby was born on 12 January 1914 at Murphysboro, Jackson Co., Illinois.¹ He married Mary Jo Riggio on 24 October 1935 at Murphysboro, Jackson Co., Illinois.² Harry T. Kilby died on 24 February 1991 at Murphysboro, Jackson Co., Illinois, at age 77.¹ He was buried at St. Andrew's Cemetery, Murphysboro, Jackson Co., Illinois.¹

     Kyle Kilby married Cayla Harn, daughter of Donald Gane Harn and Connie Sue Ingram.

     Laura Ann Kilby was born on 29 June 1961 at Bloomington, McLean Co., Illinois.¹ She was the daughter of Edward Thornton Harn and Marilyn Kilby. Laura Ann Kilby married Dale L. Blaes on 20 April 1996 at St. John's United Church of Christ, Smithton, St. Clair Co., Illinois. Laura Ann Kilby married Cynthia Tesdall.¹ Laura Ann Kilby died on 26 March 2025 at St. Louis, Missouri, at age 63.¹ She graduated circa 1979 at Murphysboro High School, Murphysboro, Jackson Co., Illinois.¹ Laura Ann Kilby was a Catholic.¹ In August 1996 Laura Ann Kilby was a Director of the public libraies in Smithton and Germantown, Illinois. She lived in October 1998 at O'Fallon, St. Clair Co., Illinois.

Laura Kilby Blaes
June 29, 1961 — March 26, 2025

Laura A. Kilby Blaes, 63, of Waterloo, IL died on March 26, 2025, in St. Louis, MO. She was born June 29, 1961, in Bloomington, IL, daughter of Marilyn Kilby and Edward Harn.

Laura graduated from Murphysboro High School in Murphysboro, IL and continued her education at Illinois State University in Normal, IL. She graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1983 with a degree in Library Science Education.

Laura retired from the Belleville Public Library in June 2021 after a 37-year career in several libraries in Southern Illinois, including serving as librarian at Gibault Catholic High School in Waterloo from 1984 to 1993. Her most gratifying achievements were her roles in the establishment of the public libraries in both Smithton and Germantown. Her greatest joy was “connecting people with information, one patron at a time.”

During her youth, Laura was a member of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Murphysboro. She had also been active in the Teens Encounter Christ movement and the Newman Center at ISU, working closely with Campus Minister, Fr. Joe Kelly.

She is survived by her spouse, Cynthia Tesdall; mother, Marilyn Kilby formerly of Murphysboro; her best friend, Sr. Elaine Freund, ASC, of Waterloo; in-laws: Duane Tesdall, Kathy Tesdall, Bruce (Terri) Tesdall, Paul (Gail) Tesdall; half-siblings, Charles Harn and Diane Moore; nephews: Tony Atty, Zachary Harn, Travis James Tesdall, and Travis John Bradley; niece, Molly (Kenny) Johnson; great niece, Roselynn Tesdall; caregivers: Jane Vogt and Kim Nardoni; as well as many cousins, friends, library patrons, and her cats, ButterBean and CJ.

She was preceded in death by her father, Edward Thornton Harn; aunt, Anna Marie Harn; maternal grandparents, Harry and Mary (Riggio) Kilby; paternal grandparents, Eden Earl and Kimmie (Snuggs) Harn; mother-in-law, Patricia Tesdall; and her cats Muffin and Spencer, who brought her much joy over the years.

Memorial contributions in honor of Laura may be made to Smithton Public Library District, Germantown Public Library District, Parkinson Voice Project (parkinsonvoiceproject.org), or Peace UCC Freedom School (peaceuccstl.org).

Memorial Visitation:
9 AM to 12 PM Saturday, May 10, 2025 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud, IL

Celebration of Life Mass:
12 PM Saturday, May 10, 2025 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud, IL.

https://www.quernheimfuneralhome.com/obituaries/laura-blaes.¹


She graduated in 1983 at Illinois State University, Normal, McLean Co., Illinois, degree in Library Science Education.¹ Between 1984 and 1993 Laura Ann Kilby was a Librarian, at Gibault Catholic High School, Waterloo, Monroe Co., Illinois.¹ In June 1998 Laura Ann Kilby was a Librarian, at Lebanon Public Library, Lebanon, St. Clair Co., Illinois. She lived in July 2012 at Waterloo, Monroe Co., Illinois.²

     Marilyn Kilby is the daughter of Harry T. Kilby and Mary Jo Riggio.

     Richard Kilpatrick married Ann Marie Ahlstrom, daughter of Bert Tavelli Ahlstrom Sr. and Josephine Katheryn Legerski, on 23 November 1963 at Sheridan, Sheridan Co., Wyoming.¹

     Henry Kimball married Anna Mitchell on 1 November 1814.

     Annie Kimble was born circa 1878 at South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana. She was the daughter of James Edward Kimble and Susanna Robertson.

     Edna Kimble was born in 1887 at South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana. She was the daughter of James Edward Kimble and Susanna Robertson. Edna Kimble died in 1955.

     Emma Kimble was born circa 1880 at South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana. She was the daughter of James Edward Kimble and Susanna Robertson.

     Fannie Kimble was born in 1884 at South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana. She was the daughter of James Edward Kimble and Susanna Robertson. Fannie Kimble died in 1934.

     James Edward Kimble was born on 6 December 1857 at Burlington Co., New Jersey. He married Susanna Robertson, daughter of James W. Robertson and Mary Ann Chord, on 6 November 1877.¹ James Edward Kimble died in 1887 at South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana. He died in 1887.

     Mary Kimble was the daughter of James Edward Kimble and Susanna Robertson.

     Mary Christie Kimble was born on 25 December 1905 at Greene Co., Pennsylvania. She married Frederick Harold Booth, son of George Bernard Booth and Ella May Harker. Mary Christie Kimble died on 3 March 1987 at Greene Co., Pennsylvania, at age 81. She was buried at Rosemont Cemetery, Rogersville, Greene Co., Pennsylvania.¹

     Ralph Kimble was born in 1881. He was the son of James Edward Kimble and Susanna Robertson. Ralph Kimble died in 1897.

     Mark Kimbrell married LuAnn Harn, daughter of Charles Harold Harn and Bonnie Jean Ellis.