Mrs. Kerry Duer Klein, of Oak Shore Farm, Belle Haven, passed away after a long illness on Oct. 7, 2026.
She was born Aug. 20, 1946, in Nassawadox, the second child of A.C. Duer III and Dorothy Sowers Duer, both of whom predeceased her.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, J. Nicholas Klein III, their three children, Kerry Katherine Klein, of Roanoke, John N. Klein IV, of Winter Park, Fla., and Kevin Duer Klein; her daughter-in-law, Jennifer Watson Klein, of North Chesterfield; and four grandchildren, Ashby Watson Klein, of North Chesterfield and Ethan P., Jacob K., and Stella E. Klein, of Winter Park.
She is also survived by her brother, Abel C. “Con” Duer IV and his wife, Lesa, of Belle Haven and their children, Darcie and Amanda.
She was predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law, Jean and Roy Drummond.
Born Kerry Lynn Duer, she attended Belle Haven Elementary School and graduated from Central High School. She graduated with a degree in chemistry from Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia in 1968.
Nick and Kerry were married in March of 1968 in Onley and then resided in Knoxville, Tenn., where Nick was in business school and Kerry worked at the Oak Ridge National Lab. From there they moved to Tulsa, Okla., and Philadelphia, Pa., and then to Chattanooga, Tenn., where Kerry Katherine was born.
In Chattanooga, Kerry was the chemistry teacher at East Ridge High School. In 1974, they moved to Memphis, Tenn., where Nick attended law school and Kerry taught junior high in Southaven, Miss. Kerry attended Memphis State University and received a master’s degree in education degree from there in 1976.
In December 1976, Kerry and Nick moved to Accomac. Kerry taught at Atlantic High School and later at Broadwater Academy in Exmore. She retired from teaching when her son John was born in 1980. Later, Kevin was born in 1984.
She was an active mom, taking kids to swimming practice at the Onley pool and back and forth to Broadwater, T-ball, Little League, and school sports all over southeastern Virginia.
Kerry was a former member of the board of directors for Broadwater Academy, a longtime member of Ye Accawmacke Garden Club, where she won numerous awards, a retired Jackie Sorenson Aerobic Dance instructor in Onancock, and a first-class health enthusiast, whether running in the Brownsville race, Northampton races, Onancock, races or Parksley races, and she had at least 23 trophies by her husband’s count to verify it.
She was active too as a young teenager, teaching many young people swimming lessons at the family pool on Oak Shore Farm. Kerry was a wonderful dancer and took every opportunity to drag Nick onto the dance floor over the last 58 years.
Kerry enjoyed the game of bridge and the friends she played with. She was an avid gardener prior to her illness, as was evidenced by her beautiful yard at Oak Shore Farm. Another passion of hers was her sourdough bread and rolls, which were cherished Christmas gifts by her numerous friends.
In later years, she and her husband enjoyed spending time at their second home at Amelia Island Plantation, where her friends, “the girls,” gathered each year to enjoy the island. It was a girls’ getaway like no other.
Kerry’s family thanks the many doctors and nurses at Riverside Shore Memorial, Riverside Parksley Rehab, and Riverside Hospice for their loving care shown to Kerry over the past few months. Special thanks go to Kisha West and Jeanette Troyer for their loving and faithful care and assistance over the last year, which helped the Klein family and Kerry so very much.
A service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Doughty Funeral Home in Exmore, at 11 a.m., with Mickey Ashby officiating, followed by a private burial in the Duer plot in Belle Haven Cemetery. A luncheon reception for all Kerry’s friends and family will follow at Oak Shore Farm, 35159 Occohannock Drive, Belle Haven, VA 23306.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Kerry’s honor may be made to Broadwater Academy at 3500 Broadwater Road, Exmore, VA 23350, or The Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60601.
Arrangements were made by Doughty Funeral Home of Exmore.
