Kerry O. Lafferty, 78, St. Cloud

September 21, 1936 - January 22, 2015

Kerry Otho Lafferty, age 78, St. Cloud, MN, died Thursday, January 22, 2015 at North Memorial Medical Center, Robbinsdale, MN.

A memorial gathering and time for sharing will be held in Teresa Reception Center, at the College of St. Benedict on Friday February 6 at 7:00pm.

Kerry was born September 21, 1936 in Kinsley, KS to Otho and Dorris (Duggar) Lafferty. He married Margaret “Peg” Murphy on December 20, 1980 in St. Cloud, MN.

Kerry’s professional career in Minnesota started as a charter member of the Theater faculty at Southwest State College, Marshall in 1967. In 1971 he became technical director at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.
When the Guthrie touring production “Of Mice and Men” was playing at the Benedicta Arts Center in 1973 at the College of St. Benedict, Colman O’Connell lured him away to become technical director of the CSB/SJU theater department. Kerry continued as professor and scenic designer for the Theater Department for 30 years. Upon his retirement he was named Professor Emeritus. Kerry’s proudest achievements are the successes of his family and his students in their personal and professional lives.

Survivors include his wife, Peg Murphy of St. Cloud, MN; son and daughter, M. Sean (Karen) Lafferty of Minnetonka, MN; Meg (Joe) Lafferty-Schuller of Wadena, MN; sister, Ann Dings of Florence, AZ and Ft. Collins, CO; 5 grandchildren, Robert Otho (Ashley) Schuller, Alli (Matt) Wagner, Mick Schuller, Steven Schuller and Connor Lafferty, 2 great granddaughters, Zoie and Mila Schuller and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son, Patrick J. Lafferty on November 7, 1996, and sister, Patricia Lafferty in 1938.

Memorials are preferred to either the CSB/SJU Theater Scholarship program or the University of Minnesota Medical School/Masonic Cancer Research Center for Myelodysplastic Syndrome research.