Smiling From Heaven

Have fun in heaven, Grandma ... and smile down on your ten children, 29 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchild. We certainly will be smiling back at you! Thank you for your life!!

Dorothy Joan Bierbower Kersey July 21, 1924 – October 6, 2009 Dorothy Joan Bierbower Kersey, 85, formerly of Orange, Texas, passed away peacefully at her home in College Station, Texas, on October 6, 2009. Dorothy Joan, the daughter of James Cavitt and Margaret Bierbower, was born on July 21, 1924 in Giltner, Nebraska. She attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, majoring in Art, and worked as a secretary for the FBI in Washington D.C. It was in Lincoln that she met the love of her life, Everett "Bob" Kersey, and they were married on December 11, 1943. They lived in Evanstown, Illinois while Bob obtained his Master's degree in engineering from Northwestern University. In 1950, as their family grew, Bob and Joan moved to Orange, Texas, where Bob worked for DuPont. Joan supported her husband in his career, and he supported her as a loving and devoted mother to ten beautiful children, all of whom attended St. Mary's Parochial School. Joan was known for her wonderful cooking and her caring, gracious hospitality, and this made the Kersey home a friendly hub of activity for family, friends, and neighbors. After 32 years of calling Orange their home, the family moved to College Station, Texas, where many of the children attended Texas A&M University. Their home in College Station took on the same appeal as their home in Orange, as one of their greatest joys was in having big get-togethers where all felt loved and welcomed. Joan and Bob's love for each other radiated to all who knew them, and their strong union was an example for all of their children. Only one month shy of their 65th wedding anniversary, Bob went to his reward on October 24, 2008 - and now his lovely wife with a gentle spirit rejoins him. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, J.C. and Margaret; husband, Bob; and seven siblings, June, Marg, Mick, Barbara Jean, Mary Lou, Dr. Bob, and John Richard. Left to cherish her memories are her children, Mary Tabor of Friendswood, Texas, Michael Kersey of Houston, Texas, Kathleen Shearer of College Station, Robert Kersey of Granbury, Texas, Richard Kersey of Lake Jackson, Texas, Steven Kersey of Bryan, Texas, James Kersey of Mansfield, Texas, Patricia Riley of College Station, Edward Kersey of Magnolia, Arkansas, and Joan Rudd of College Station, and her 29 grandchildren, l2 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Pallbearers will be Stephen Tabor, Alan Shearer, Ray Davis, Chris Kersey, Scotty Kersey, and Aaron Riley. The family would like to thank Annette Bryant and Mildred Robertson, who were kind and helpful in the care of their Mom, and the staff of Choice Home Health Care.