Maria Kerby Obituary

Maria Milagros Kerby age 52, passed from this life on Sunday January 12, 2025 at LMH Health. She was surrounded by family and friends after a long and fierce battle with cancer. Services will take place at 10:00 am on Saturday January 18, 2025 at Warren McElwain of Lawrence with burial at Memorial Park Cemetery. Family will receive guests at Warren McElwain on Friday evening January 17 from 6 to 8 pm.

Maria was born June 28, 1972 in New York City, NY to mother Luz Raquel Gonzalez Toro and father Jaime Toro Sr. Growing up in the Bronx, she attended Our Lady of Mercy elementary school and then St Catherine's Academy high school. After graduation she attended Lehman College and graduated with a Bachelors degree in accounting.

After college she worked as a Publications Representative for the New York Botanical Garden. On August 21, 2005 she married James Kerby Jr and made her home in Eudora, Ks. This marriage came with two children Marcia Michelle Roberts and Aaron James Kerby, who happily claimed her as their mother, and she claimed them as her own. She went to work for Healthcare Access. Prior to its closing she went to work at the Douglas County Treasurer's Office. A year later she was hired at LMH Health, and at the time of her passing was Clinic Office Supervisor for LMH Cardiovascular Specialists.

Maria was a loving and caring person. Her middle name Milagros translates from Spanish as "Miracle" and it did truly describe who she was. She was ready to help anyone at a moment's notice and she did touch so many lives in her time on this earth. Her smile lit up any room that she walked in to, and had such a contagious laugh. Her personality, compassion, and loving spirit gained her so many strong and lasting friendships.

She loved working in her many flower gardens during the spring and summer. She adored Christmas and all of her many decorations and trees. Even more than her love for Christmas, she loved her "fur baby" kittens Bronx and Bogo.

Maria was preceded in death by her father Jaime Toro, Sr, a nephew Jaime(J.J.) Toro III, and her beloved cousin Mildred Alvarado. She is survived by her husband James Kerby, Jr. of the home, daughter Marcia Roberts and husband Greg of Raymore, Missouri, son Aaron Kerby of Croydon, Pennsylvania, granddaughter Katelyn Dake and husband Theron of Sand Springs Oklahoma, and Grandson Christian Kilby of Gardner, Kansas. Also survived by her mother Luz Raquel Toro, Bronx, NY, brother Jaime Toro, Jr, Orlando, Florida, Nancy Toro of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins, all of whom she loved dearly.

The family would like to thank all the many friends and her work family for the many expressions of love and kindness. Special thanks for the loving, professional, and compassionate care given by the staffs of LMH Health oncology unit and KU Medical Oncology doctors and nurses.

Flowers are happily received at the funeral home, but special gratitude for any donations made to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation which can be made in her name to Warren McElwain Mortuary.