Michael Rivers Kerley
Born in Savannah, GA on Jun. 19, 1944 and Departed on Nov. 10, 2012
Michael Rivers Kerley
Michael Rivers Kerley, age 68, died peacefully at Hospice House in Savannah on November 10, 2012. The cause of death was Agent Orange related prostate cancer.
Mike was born June 19, 1944 in Savannah to Larry and Dorothy (Rivers) Kerley. Graduating from Savannah High in 1962, Mike attended college at UCLA where his studies were interrupted by the draft. He volunteered to go to Vietnam and became a diver for the Army.
Mike completed his education at UC Berkeley obtaining a degree in Political Science while concentrating his studies on Modern Chinese Politics. He was also editor of the Berkeley humor magazine, The California Pelican.
After graduation in 1970, Mike spent a year working for the U.S. Treasury Department and became one of the first Sky Marshalls trained to help prevent hijacking of U.S. commercial aircraft.
Always an avid reader and gifted writer, Mike won many awards while making his living as a writer and creative director for advertising agencies in Los Angeles and in Atlanta. In 1993, he was the writer tapped to create the first branding campaign for ValuJet Airlines and later became the publisher, editor and writer for various in-flight magazines including AirTran Airways Arrivals.
Mike lived in many parts of the country but was always happiest surrounded by the Spanish moss and marshes in his hometown of Savannah. He spent his final years living in Thunderbolt where he enjoyed his books, his boat and his view of the Wilmington River.
His son, Nicholas Michael Kerley of Los Angeles along with aunt and uncle, Lucy and Paul Weingand of Satellite Beach, Florida, survive Mike. There are also many cousins and loyal friends throughout the country.
A memorial service will be planned for a later date.
In lieu of flowers charitable donations can be made to Planned Parenthood Southeast, 75 Piedmont Avenue, Suite 800, Atlanta, GA 30303 or Vietnam Veterans of America, 8719 Colesville Road, Suite 100, Silver Springs, MD 20910.
Upon further review, I believe it was Sunday, November 18 (not tomorrow the 17th) that Kenny Young told me there should be an obituary for Mike in the 'Savannah Morning News.'
