Kerry Lee Westbrook

Kerry Westbrook, 72, of Canadian, passed away February 22, 2022, in Dallas.

Memorial services will be 10:00 am, Saturday, March 12, 2022, at the First Christian Church with Pastor Gary Stafford, officiating.  Arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Canadian.

Kerry Lee Westbrook was born on September 10, 1949, in Smith Center, Kansas, to Jesse Eugene Westbrook and Marietta Nadine (Cottrill) Westbrook.  Kerry grew up in Phillipsburg, Kansas, and graduated High School in 1967, and then from Beloit Vo-Tech College in 1968 and attended Fort Hays University.  Kerry moved to Canadian, Texas, in 1980, where he met and married Jo Hyatt Schafer, the love of his life, on December 19, 1984, and was married until her death on October 29, 2021.  Kerry attained Private Pilot Certification and enjoyed taking his friends flying.  He was a horseman, rodeoed and served on multiple rodeo boards during his lifetime; he enjoyed fishing, camping and loved animals.  Kerry was an incredibly skilled welder, using his eye for design and creativity in his trade daily.  In 1986, he started a welding business in Canadian and was very successful.  After his business, the community refused to allow him to retire.  People would bring trailers and all sorts of welding projects and leave in his driveway, knowing that his inherent desire to help others would eventually eat at him until their projects were completed.  The pattern continued long enough, that he started his second welding business in Canadian and ran it from his home office and shop until he sold it in 2017 to his youngest son. 

Kerry was very artistic, and scale didn’t intimidate him.  He left many marks on Canadian; a few of which include the rodeo arena and grandstands you see when entering from the North, the spur and horse-shoe horse sculptures located in Sunset Park, right along with the welcome signs literally welcoming you into town!  Retirement didn’t sit well with Kerry.  He quickly checked off all of his honey-dos from the list and started taking on jobs that allowed him to work when the weather was right, or the mood struck him.  Throughout the course of Kerry and Jo’s life together, they worked side by side.  Whether it was welding jobs, plow disc/metal art, art shows, horses, homesite upkeep or anything one of them found an interest in, they weren’t far apart and most likely teaming up for the effort!  Later in life, their “free time” was typically spent digging up or spraying weeds out in the pastures – they took pride in keeping their homeplace kept up and in good shape.  Kerry was a very proud father and loved his grandchildren; he was a wonderful ally and friend and was always ready to jump to lend a helping hand and believed in giving people second chances.  His kind and loving heart, steadfast support, his always willing spirit, his joyful laugh will be some of the many attributes that will be terribly missed by those he left behind. 

Kerry was preceded in death by wife Joyce “Jo” Earlene Westbrook; parents Marietta Nadine Holsman and Jesse Eugene Westbrook; bonus son Jo-Lynn Schafer; sister Jill Scheirling and brother-in-law Duane Scheirling.

Kerry is survived by son Scott Westbrook, wife Candi and children Connor, MacKenzie and Arik of Tyro, Kansas;  son Kirk Westbrook, wife Laura and children Chloë and Lily of Canadian, Texas; bonus son Jay Schafer and wife Janice of Canadian, Texas; grandson Jesse Schafer, wife Chelsea and son Brady of Stillwater, Oklahoma; granddaughter Jaymee Wright, husband Tyler and son Creed of Stratford, Texas; sister Kaye Perkins and husband Verlyn of Lakewood, CO; sister Doris Landree and husband Dave of Ironton, MN; sister Patti Elliott and husband John of Ozark, MO; many nieces and nephews, along with many lifelong friends.

The family has decided that Kerry would want memorials to go towards the efforts of the Fort Elliott High School Vocational Ag Department to assist with funds for student project materials.  Please mail memorials and make checks payable to:  Fort Elliott Ag Mech. Dept., P.O. Box 138, Briscoe, TX   79011