Scarlet fever
On March 1, 1880, Kerfoot's sixty-fourth birthday, he visited his doctor regarding his deafness. On May 12, 1880, Kerfoot and family, with exception of his wife, came down with Scarlet fever. On June 6, 1880, Kerfoot's only surviving son Abel, a priest, died. In addition, he suffered "bitter grief" at the failure of Bishop Riley to keep his promises to him.