Ellen Marie Kerr

Ellen Marie (Byykkonen) Kerr, 69, a resident of Arvada, Colorado, passed away on Friday, May 31, 2013 at Exempla Good Samaritan Hospital in Lafayette, Colorado with her family at her side. Ellen was born in Hancock, Michigan, on August 11, 1943, a daughter of the late Carl and Effie (Jukuri) Byykkonen. She graduated from Calumet, Michigan High School in 1961 and was employed at St. Anthony's Hospital in Hancock. On June 20, 1964, Ellen married Edward Kerr in the Laurium, Michigan Apostolic Lutheran Church. After nearly forty years as an Arvada resident, Ellen remained closely associated with her home in Upper Michigan's Copper Country and her ""Yooper"" ties. In Michigan, Ellen lived first in a little log house in the woods near the community of Elo in Houghton County and later moved to Traprock Valley, and then to Raymbaultown near Calumet. She and Ed resided in Hancock and Calumet before moving to Arvada, Colorado in 1974. For six months in 1981, Ellen lived in Jardine, Montana, an old gold mining camp adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. Ellen worked for many years as a Teacher's Assistant in the Jefferson County Schools, primarily at Thomson Elementary in Arvada. In addition to her family, Ellen enjoyed; sewing, quilting, gardening, hockey, and dining out. She loved road trips and picnics. Ellen also made the best Copper Country style Cornish pasties, as well as, her salsa and pickled beets. Ellen had a collection of collections and antiques. Her ceramic birds were a favorite, especially the humming birds. Ellen was preceded in death by her parents; a son Paul; a sister Verna Mandoli; a brother Carl ""Dan""; and a brother Kenneth as an infant. Surviving are Ellen's husband Edward; daughter Carolyn (Kurt) Knudsen of Arvada; son Sean of Arvada; daughter-in-law Veronica Kerr of Holmsund, Sweden; four grandchildren, Kelsey and Matthias ""Matti"" Knudsen of Arvada, and Courtney and Karl-Edward of Holmsund; sister-in-law Susan Malarik of Hudson, Ohio: sister-in-law Judith Byykkonen of Traprock Valley and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. There will be a Memorial Service and reception for Ellen at 10:30 am July 13, 2013 at the Horan & McConaty Funeral Home chapel in Arvada. This will be followed by an old-fashioned picnic at the Arvada home of Kurt and Carolyn Knudsen to celebrate Ellen and Paul. Many thanks for the gifts and flowers already received. If you wish, send a donation to the cancer charity of your choice, The Arvada Food Bank, or plant a rosebush for Ellen. Yellow was Ellen's favorite color. Please share your memories of Ellen and condolences with her family by signing the guestbook below.