Jeda G. Kerby was born to Charles and Joy Landtiser of Livonia, MO at Grim Smith Hospital in Kirksville, MO on December 23, 1944. She passed into Heaven on Saturday, January 17, 2026 with family surrounding her. Jeda attended schools in Livonia, Mt. Vernon, Medill, Kahoka, and Lancaster, MO and graduated from Lancaster High School in 1962. She immediately started working in Columbia, MO as a secretary at Shelter Insurance until she married Joe Bert Kerby on December 21, 1962. The young couple then moved to Carrizozo, NM where Joe finished his stint as an army medic and where they had their first son. They then moved to the Des Moines, IA area and subsequently to Kirksville, MO where they lived the rest of their lives.

Jeda provided child care for her own children and others including two nieces for many years until taking on outside the home employment in Kirksville. She was a para-professional at Washington Elementary, a PT tech at Kirksville Manor Care, and until retirement was the Social
Services and Activity Director for Manor Care for many years. In addition, Jeda contributed her talents at Hamilton Street Baptist Church in the choir, leading children’s choir, teaching at Bible school, planning menus, and cooking for weekly church suppers and mission trips. Her fortes were planning trip itineraries and music. She played the piano both by reading music and by ear. In school, she was in groups winning state music contests for several years and continued singing in small groups until illness stopped her. A special joy was harmonizing with her two sisters. Her delight was being with her family, cherishing each moment while anticipating the next. Hers is a physical life ended, and an eternal life realized, with a life lived for the Lord, loving on her family, supporting the work of her church, and making an impact with the people she met.

Jeda is survived by sons Chuck (Mary) Kerby of Bella Vista, AR, Brian (Michelle) Kerby, O’Fallon, MO, Brett (Wendy) Kerby, Kirksville, MO, and Scott (Sara) Kerby, Independence, MO; grandchildren Jenna (Bryan) Buettemeyer, David (Mariah) Kerby, Rebecca (Sean) Kerby,
Abigail (Tristan) Songer, Samuel Kerby, Benjamin Kerby, and Maxwell Kerby; and great grandchildren Hudson, Rhett, Sawyer, and Remi Buettemeyer, Carolina Kerby, Theo Rogers, and Edmond Rogers. She is also survived by sisters Jean Beeler and Patricia (Lyle) York, brother-in-laws Harold (Bud) Kerby and Ron Shepherd, and many loved nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends, Jeda was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and grandson Adam Kerby.

Public visitation will be held Saturday, January 24, 2026 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 Sunday, January 25, 2026 at Hamilton Street Baptist Church in Kirksville, with Pastor Tim Ingle officiating. Interment will follow the service at St. John's Cemetery in Livonia, Missouri.

Memorial donations in memory of Jeda may be made to St. John's Cemetery and may be left at Hamilton Street Baptist Church or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.