Peter "Tim" Timothy Kerr

Peter “Tim” Kerr was born in Elma, Washington, in 1945. The family moved to Omak, and his siblings recall a childhood filled with outdoor adventures and a reverence for books and education. He attended Omak High School and graduated from Ingraham High School in Seattle in 1963. In 1966 he married Nancy Brink. He studied political science and graduated from the University of Washington (UW) in 1967, before enlisting in the U.S. Army the same year. While stationed in Okinawa, Japan, Tim and Nancy had their daughter Sharyn. After his honorable discharge in 1971, Tim returned to Seattle with his family, completed his Master of Public Administration at UW in 1973, and settled in Olympia working with the State Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee. Soon, he and Nancy had their son David, and together, they built their family and community in Olympia.

Tim spent the majority of his career as Deputy State Treasurer under three administrations, overseeing bond financing of large public projects. He took seriously his responsibilities as a public servant and steward of resources. Tim completed a Master of Business Administration at UW and worked at UBS before retiring. 

In 1987, Tim married Cynthia Wells, and the two traveled the world together, including Egypt, Laos, Cuba, Senegal, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, England, and most frequently, given their love of wine, to France. Cynthia and Tim lived together in Seattle for 35 years until Cynthia’s death in 2022. They were well known for helping to cultivate a close-knit neighborhood, entertaining an extended network of friends, and for pampering beloved nephews, nieces, and grandnieces who came to stay with them for extended summer visits.

Tim was a marathon runner before it was en vogue (think Nike flats and spoonfuls of mayonnaise, rather than Hokas and energy gels), finishing races in New York City, Seattle, Vancouver, B.C., Olympia, and San Francisco. He was an early member of the Mountaineers who ascended Mt. Rainier, Mt. St Helens (pre-eruption), and other Cascade peaks. Tim was a natural athlete who rarely trained for these feats – one dear friend jealously called him “the guy who just shows up.” He especially shared his love of the PNW outdoors with Sharyn and David, taking (or dragging) them on cross-country skiing, backpacking, and mountaineering trips. 

Community was central to Tim’s identity. His volunteer work included weekly hours at Northwest Harvest’s SODO Community Market food bank, serving on the boards of Washington State Employees’ Credit Union, the Seabrook Foundation, and Plymouth Housing, and, in earlier years, being a Reading Buddy at Roosevelt Elementary in the Olympia School District. With Cynthia and his Newton Street neighbors, he formed the Friends of the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery Park, restoring the cemetery to the dignity it deserves and organizing daily flag-raising. He was a fervent supporter of his local National Public Radio station, Humanities Washington, and organizations and people who focus on the arts and civic engagement. 

Most of all, Tim loved his friends and family. He found joy in shared travel and meals. He loved to entertain in Seattle and Seabrook, preparing duck confit or serving a libation to his loved ones. He was an avid reader of biographies and mysteries, and a strong Scrabble player, with a flair for funny word choices (eschew) and turns of phrase (“I’m going to talk to my broker”). He adored his three grandchildren, always making time for each of them as individuals, including their self-selected 10-year-old trips to NYC, Savannah, and Chicago.

Tim’s final few years battling Alzheimer’s dementia contrast with his decades of intellectual acuity and physical stamina. He never lost his love for his family and friends. Tim is survived by his daughter Sharyn and her husband Jack (Olympia), son David and his wife Jenny (Corvallis, OR), grandchildren Claire, Reid, and Charlie, his brothers Charles and Bill, and his sister Devena.

The family suggests that donations may be made in Tim’s honor to your local food bank or NPR station.