William Ervin Berry |
| Posted 2009-03-04 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Wednesday, May 2, 2007 William Ervin Berry A rainstorm blew through Prescott at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 29, 2007. As it passed, it took the soul of a long-time Prescott resident, William Ervin Berry, on its wing. His last breath bore the familiar sweet aroma of the wet high desert earth he loved so well. Born October 15, 1919, in Paul's Valley, Oklahoma, he died of complications from brain cancer with his beloved wife Theda Parish Berry and his children, Julie Berry Connorand Andrew Berry at his side. Bill Berry was the youngest of the four children of Martin and Maud Berry of Granite, Oklahoma. He was the proud and loving grandfather of tenand the great grandfather of one little girl. Bill, as he was known in Prescott, Ervin to his Oklahoma kin, moved to Prescott with his family in 1956 to become the administrator of the Fort Whipple Veterans Administration Hospital. The Berry's lived in the Mountain Club for two years until he built the house on Copper Basin Road for his family, the house in which he and his wife raised Julie and Andy, and the site of many happy memories for both with dear friends. His wife, Theda, taught Home Economics to generations of Prescottonians, and his children, Julie and Andy graduated from Prescott High School. Mr. and Mrs. Berry were active members of the Willow Hills Baptist Church. He was a dear friend and reliable companion to many in this community. Bill attended college at Southwestern State College in Oklahoma, where he was a star on the football team and reportedly holds the record for the longest punt ever kicked at that school. On his fireplace at his home on Copper Basin is the game ball from that historic kick, now under-inflated, but still bearing the names of his teammates. With characteristic humility, he told his grandchildren that the record-breaking punt was a combination of factors, not necessarily of his skill and talent, and laughed that the record was primarily a result of the fad that the football was wet that day. He went on to remind his grandchildren that he regrets the trend in football today that has players celebrating a single touchdown to the embarrassment of opposing players. Bill remained athletically active as long as his health lasted, riding a bicycle to Fort Whipple until his retirement and running, then walking the track every day before dinner at Prescott Junior High. Until a year ago, he could be seen any afternoon fast-walking that track at the Junior High. Whenever his children and grandchildren were in town, they accompanied him on his daily pre-dinner workouts, piling into his pick up en route to and from the adventure. Bill Berry was a Major in the U.S. Amy and was active in the Army Reserves until his retirement. He made his mark in Prescott as the caring administrator at the VA hospital where he and the medical staff served the veterans of three wars who were treated there with uncommon compassion. But the great love of his life was his wife, Theda, whom he first saw through the window of a soda shop in Oklahoma. He announced immediately and accurately to his college friends that he had found the woman he would marry and on January 9, 1942, he did just that. The love of his wife, the happiness of his family and of these children were the central concern of his life. He enjoyed nothing more in earlier years than camping and fishing with Julie and Andy and their friends. In recent years, he loved gathering them and all their children for Christmas and Thanksgiving or for homemade ice cream on the back porch for the Fourth of July. Bill Berry was an athlete, a farmer, a soldier, a healer, a carpenter, a culinary master and jelly maker, an artist, a teacher, a friend, a leader, a patriot, a man of unshakable faith and, above all, a man whose devotion to his wife and his family knew no bounds. With strength, grace, humor and subtlety, he lived well and loved all. Bill is survived by Theda, Julie and Terry Connor of Coral Gables, Florida, Andy and Sheila Berry of Anthem, Arizona, and their ten grandchildren, Sarah Berry of Denver, Andrea and Becky Berry and Kate and Keith Stalzer of Phoenix, Cormac and Anupama Connor of Chevy Chase, Maryland and Kristin, Etain and Brendan Connor of Coral Gables, Florida. Their great granddaughter is Jaya Chaturvedi Connor of Chevy Chase, Maryland; another great grandchild will arrive in May. A celebration of Bill's life will be 1 p.m. Friday, May 4, at the Willow Hills First Southern Baptist Church, 1071 Mogollon Road, Prescott, Arizona. The family will receive friends from noon until service time at the church. A reception will follow the service at the church. A private family committal service will be at the Arizona Pioneer Home Cemetery. The Hampton Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements. Information provided by survivors. See Also: Find A Grave |
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