Kerstie Michelle Whitaker-Sery
The Whitaker family is heartbroken to announce the passing of Kerstie Michelle Whitaker Sery.
She is the beloved wife of Mark Sery, loving mother of Alexandreia Whitaker and Ryan Wagner, cherished daughter of Monica B. Whitaker, dearest sister of Rachel R.L.Rubbo.
She is preceded in death by her first husband Ryan Wagner and her father Anthony W. Turner.
The family wants to thank everyone for your prayer and concerns during this unimaginable time.
Arrangements for the Celebration of Kertie’s Life will be forthcoming when available.
Michelle has always been one of the most passionate souls I have ever met. If she decided you were family, that was that, and she’d protect you fiercely. From what I remember. We hadn’t seen one another in a long time but I thought of her often. Most recently, she had reached out wanting to get together and I really wish we had. Sending all of the love and condolences.
I worked with Kerstie! She was a beautiful, loveable, chaotic lady. My heart hurts for her family and anyone who loved her because she will be deeply missed. Fly high my beautiful friend. You’ll forever be in my heart.
Love, Ma!
Kerstie was a wonderful friend and colleague, and I feel incredibly fortunate that our paths crossed over the last year and a half. In that relatively short time, we built a friendship rooted in authenticity. I’m grateful I had the chance to learn from her, laugh with her, and simply be myself around her.
Kerstie had a truly boisterous laugh and a personality that brought energy to every room she was in. It was impossible not to know when she was around. It was also clear how deeply she loved her daughters, Alexandreia and Ryan. She spoke about them often and with so much pride.
I wish we had gotten those drinks we always talked about. More than anything, I’m thankful for the time I had to know Kerstie and for the memories we made along the way. She was more than a coworker; she was a wonderful friend, a mentor, and someone who made the everyday moments a little more memorable.
She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.
I’m absolutely heartbroken to hear of Kerstie’s passing. I’ve known her for a few years professionally and she was always the first person to say hi at a networking event.
Kerstie was my girl from day one, my Ferguson “work-wife.”
I knew from the moment I saw the resin paperweight encasing a bat atop her desk and heard the Louisiana drawl come out of her mouth, that she was my person. I instantly admired her quick wit, quirkiness, charm, confidence, Southern Belle gothic fashion sense, openness, and her raw honesty, never holding anything back.
We simply clicked, becoming true friends, and fast. I soon became her “muffin” and her my “booboo.”
Kerstie was the mother of two beautiful girls, Lexi and Ryan, the latter named after Kerstie’s late husband, the girls’ father, and a devoted dog mom to her beloved Frenchies. Batman, in particular, held a special place in her heart, and she never missed an opportunity to share stories or photos of him. More than anything, she loved her daughters and was deeply proud of them.
She was an avid gardener who found joy in everything nature had to offer. She filled the showroom with potted plants to bring color, life, and happiness into our space. Every one of her plants had a name, though I insisted on calling them all “Frank.” At one point, she asked me to babysit one of her plants. Before I could answer, it had already been placed on my desk. I neglected to sing to it daily as she did and had instructed me to, and naturally it began to struggle. Sorry, Frank. Thankfully, Kerstie’s green thumb came to the rescue and brought it back to life.
Kerstie embraced all things considered “weird” to most, the “strange and unusual.” She loved bats, skeletons, trinkets, googly eyes, dressing in costume, a good flea market find, anatomy atlases, taxonomy, body art, piercings, gothic architecture, unique jewelry, Marilyn Manson (which was her most recent concert and she was awestruck), The Nightmare Before Christmas, Beetlejuice, and countless other wonderfully unconventional things. She was unapologetically herself, and her individuality made the world around her more interesting and colorful.
Kerstie didn’t laugh; she cackled. It was one of my favorite things about her. My heels drove her crazy at first. Anytime she heard me walking through the showroom, she’d loudly broadcast, “CLIP CLOP CLIP CLOP,” as though a horse had entered the building. Naturally, there were times I hid around the corner from her desk just to stomp my heels and make her laugh.
Meanwhile, Kerstie moved with the stealth of a ninja. During my first week at Ferguson, she startled me so badly that I nearly fell completely out of my swivel chair. More than once, she appeared beside me before I even heard her coming. Her loud “Carol of the Bells” ringtone would also make me jump every time it echoed through the showroom.
Kerstie was incredibly knowledgeable, especially when it came to appliances and lighting. Her expertise was beyond impressive, and she approached every challenge with confidence and determination. When customers or coworkers needed help, she was always willing to share her knowledge and find solutions. There was never a lighting issue that Kerstie couldn’t solve!
What stood out most, however, was her kindness. Kerstie was one of the most compassionate and caring people I have had the pleasure of working with. Whether someone was a longtime client, a first-time visitor, or simply a person in need of help, Kerstie gave them her time, attention, and compassion. Even when a stranger would walk through our doors with an issue, she would jump to help them despite knowing it wouldn’t to lead to a sale. She listened, she cared, and she went out of her way to help others whenever she could. I truly admired this about her.
One particular Saturday really stands out in my mind as an example of the kind of person Kerstie was.
Earlier that morning, an elderly gentleman had called the showroom to ask whether we had a specific dishwasher on display. He explained that he and his wife lived about two hours away and that his wife used a wheelchair, so traveling and getting around took them a little longer. I confirmed that we had the dishwasher and let him know that we closed at 3:00 p.m.
They arrived shortly before closing, but it took some time for him to help his wife out of their van and into her wheelchair. By the time they made it inside, it was essentially closing time. I held the doors for them and tried to find someone who could stay and assist them.
Kerstie was already helping another customer, but she saw what was happening. Without hesitation, she said that she was not going to leave until that couple received the help they had driven so far to get. She told us that if no one else could stay, she would help them as soon as she finished with the customers she was already assisting.
And she did.
Everyone else left. Kerstie and I stayed after closing, and she took wonderful care of them. What has always stayed with me is that she never made them feel as though they were an inconvenience or that they had arrived too late. She simply saw two people who needed help and made sure they received it.
That was Kerstie. She gave her time and energy freely, even when she didn’t have much of either to spare. She genuinely listened to people and cared about what they needed. Because my desk was near the showroom entrance, I often had her customers stop on their way out simply to tell me how much they appreciated her and how helpful she had been.
She was always willing to lend a hand, regardless of the circumstances, the day, or the time. That kind of compassion cannot be taught, and it is something I will always remember about her.
On a personal level, Kerstie was a constant source of support for me. Whenever I felt lost, overwhelmed, or like I didn’t have anyone in my corner, she was there. She was consistent, dependable, and always willing to jump in when I needed help.
There were many times, particularly while I was finding my footing in a new role at Ferguson, when I struggled with self-doubt. Kerstie noticed. She checked in on my well-being, reminded me of the things I was doing well, acknowledged my efforts, and gave me encouragement when I was having difficulty finding it within myself.
Kerstie and I shared a belief that people need both constructive criticism and positive feedback in order to grow. She wasn’t afraid to be honest with me when there was something I could learn from, but she was just as intentional about recognizing progress and giving credit where it was due. That balance meant a great deal to me.
She didn’t just help me become more confident in my role. She made me feel seen, supported, and valued during times when I truly needed it.
She recently moved from our showroom over to the Chesterfield showroom and I sobbed and blubbered like a baby, knowing I would no longer see her face every day. I was heartbroken to lose our daily conversations. She was heartbroken too – to no longer have freshly baked, extra-gooey chocolate chip cookies brought to her desk every day!
By random chance, we were assigned to the same branch to do inventory in October. We planned to dress up in coordinating costumes and be our weirdo selves together once again. We were so excited that we got placed together, not only because of our plan to show up in costume, but also already knowing that we work well together, make each other more productive, boost each other up with positive reassurance, and are able to read each other well enough to help the other before even being asked.
Kerstie was a blessing to know and to love. Although I was fortunate enough to have her in my life for only five short months, the impact she made on me will last far longer. I will always remember her cackle, her compassion, her authenticity, her love of the wonderfully weird, and the light she brought into the lives of those around her.
I am incredibly grateful for her friendship and for the privilege of having known her. She is and will continue to be deeply missed.
Love you, Kerstie girl.