Brenda Sue Berry

Brenda was born in Kansas City on August 2, 1960 to Ed and Joyce Baker. The first of three children and the only girl, Brenda spent lots of time playing in the neighborhood with her brother Bobby, cousins Mark and Rodger, and doting on baby brother, Burrel. Whether it was overnights with her aunts or spending summers down home on the Current River, Brenda loved being with her family.

In 1980, Brenda met the love of her life and future husband, Bret, through her mom, as they worked at Avon together. They quickly settled into a relationship, fell in love - and before they knew it - wedding bells were ringing. Bret and Brenda were married on March 26,1983, beginning the wonderful journey called life! They welcomed their first daughter, Lindsey, in April of 1985, and Sara completed the family in February of 1990. Brenda loved being a stay at home mom - or "domestic engineer" as she’d like to say. She loved hosting their epic Halloween parties, Monday and Friday Night Bowling, and playing co-ed softball with Bret and their friends. Easily the light in any room, her charismatic energy radiated wherever she went. She enjoyed being a room mother, softball mom, but mostly, the greatest supporter of her girls and husband.

Some of Brenda’s favorite pastimes included being in the pool, heading to Branson, gardening, and playing her favorite music and dancing (anyone who knows Brenda knows her love for a good shimmy to Mony Mony). One of the things she looked forward to the most was the yearly float trips that she would take with her husband Bret, over her birthday. They would spend the weekend making memories with sometimes up to 40 of their closest friends. Anywhere she could be near water, you’d find Brenda. Over the years those float trips would turn to backyard pool parties and man, could she throw a party! Being around friends and family, having fun, laughing, and enjoying the outdoors were the things she loved most. In 2009, both her girls began relationships with their now-husbands, Colton and Ryan - and boy was Brenda proud. In April of 2015, her eldest, Lindsey, married Colton Hossle; in June of the following year, Sara married Ryan Messer. Her family of four was now six, and Brenda could not have beamed more over her two new sons. In March of 2018, Sara and Ryan welcomed the first grandchild, Ariya Grace - and she instantly became the apple of MeMaw's eye (and her Angel Mae). Inseparable, MeMaw was by far the title she wore most proudly.

Over the years, Brenda’s health wasn’t what she hoped - but she persevered. Beating lung cancer twice, and living with such a hard rare disease like Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) - she showed strength, resilience, courage and the unwavering determination to keep going.

That fight stayed until her very last moment.

Passing away peacefully in her home on March 21, 2025, Brenda was surrounded by those who loved and cared for her. Brenda was preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Joyce Baker; in-laws, Richard and Joan Berry; grandparents, Edith and Burrel Baker, Neita and Robert Blackburn; uncles, Robert Blackburn and Clyde Huffman; aunt, Sue Cletcher; sisters-in-law, Lisa Baker and Cindy Cochran; brother-in-law, Rick Berry; nephew, David Berry; cousins, Mark and Rodger Cletcher; Brenda is now at rest with her four heavenly grandbabies - Dominic Hossle and his two heavenly siblings, side-by-side with grandbaby Messer.

She leaves behind her loving husband of 41 years, 51 weeks, and two days, Bret Berry; daughters, Lindsey Hossle (Colton) and Sara Messer (Ryan); granddaughter, Ariya Messer; sister-in-law, Vicki Berry Reid; brothers, Robert Baker and Burrel Baker (Rhonda); aunts, Carol Baker, Jane Huffman, Wanda Culpepper; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, adopted kids, and so, so many friends of Raytona Beach.

Romans 8:18 | "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us".

For those looking to honor Brenda’s legacy, we ask that donations be made in her honor to one of the below organizations:

Kansas City Hospice House, US Hereditary Angioedema Association, or the Rare Disease Foundation. These nonprofits have been a huge resource for our family.