NOTICE OF PASSING – Major (MAJ) Barbara Kerrane
It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the passing of MAJ Barbara Kerrane of McLean, VA. MAJ Kerrane passed away on April 5, 2022. She was 43 years old.
Born in Lawton, OK into a military family, Barbara grew up between Fort Bragg, NC; West Point, NY; Fort Sill, OK; Washington, D.C; Panama; and Fort Lewis, WA. These early experiences had a profound effect on her, and she devoted her life to public service. After graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington, she became a City of Arlington TX police officer. While serving in the police department, Barbara completed a master’s degree from Norwich University, and earned her juris doctorate from Texas Wesleyan University Law School (now Texas A&M University School of Law). In 2008, Barbara, and her future husband, Evan, left the police department to join the U.S. Army.
Barbara entered the Texas National Guard as a Judge Advocate, serving at Camp Mabry, TX. She deployed to Basra, Iraq (2010-2011) with the Texas Guard, as a legal assistance attorney where she earned a Bronze Star Medal. Upon her return to Texas, she joined Evan in the Active Duty Army, assigned to Fort Hood, TX. The Army then took her to Fort Benning, GA where she served as the legal advisor at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), and became the trial counsel at 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. While in Georgia, Barbara completed her Master of Laws (L.L.M.) in Taxation from the University of Alabama.
The Army then took her family to Fort Sill, OK where Barbara became a defense counsel. Her final move brought her to the Washington D.C. area, where she had assignments at the Defense Counsel Assistance Program (DCAP), Environmental Law Division, and the Army’s Special Victim Counsel Program. Barbara also earned her Master of Laws (L.L.M.) in Military Law from the Army JAG School in Charlottesville, VA.
MAJ Kerrane adored her children, loved her dogs, was an avid runner, and enjoyed the serenity of yoga. She will be missed immensely, but her tenacity toward life, love of her friends and family, and selfless service to her country and community will live on in those who knew her.
Barbara is survived by her husband, MAJ Evan Kerrane; their two young children, Quinn and Lily; parents, Mike and Roberta Kelly; and sister, Charlotte Lewis.
Funeral Services will be held at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, 7001 Georgetown Pike in McLean, Virginia at 2:30 (1430) on the 22nd of April. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Kerrane family may be shared at www.murphy-fh.com. All are welcome.
A Unit Memorial Ceremony will be held at the Fort Myer Memorial Chapel at 10:00 on the 25th of April. Colleagues, friends, and family are all welcome to attend this tribute to MAJ Kerrane’s service. If you plan to attend, please send a message to SFC Walker at richard.a.walker106.mil@army.mil. If you would like share any fond memories or photos, please contact CW3 Marrisette at jessica.p.marrisette.mil@army.mil.
An interment will follow at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Please keep the Kerrane family in your thoughts and prayers during this most difficult of times.
STUART W. RISCH
LTG, U.S. Army
The Judge Advocate General