Marjorie "Berky" H Cherry

Marjorie Elaine Hills Cherry - “Berky” - was born on July 1, 1934, in Girard, PA. She went to heaven, surrounded by family, on January 18, 2025, at her home in Peoria, AZ. As the youngest child, her brothers called her “birdie” because she was very small and ate like a little bird. She had trouble pronouncing “birdie” and it became Berky. Berky was preceded in death by her parents, all her brothers and sister, her daughter Denise, and her husband, the love of her life, Clair H. Cherry “Dude”. She is survived by daughters Jodi Ptacek (Lawrence) and Lisa Harris (Douglas), eight grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, plus one great-grandchild on the way.

Berky met Dude at a roller rink when they were teenagers. They married in 1954. They were married 68 years before his passing. Berky was a few months older than Dude, so he teased her every year on her birthday that she robbed the cradle. He loved to tease her and she just pretended to not like it. While still living in Pennsylvania, in the go-cart racing world they were known as the top husband/wife team in the country.

Berky and Dude moved from Pennsylvania to Phoenix in 1966. Berky was a career woman with an intense work ethic. While most mom’s were stay at home mom’s, she worked longer and harder than most of her colleagues. In 1976, she and Dude started their own business ( 25 years) and finally her hard work and determination paid off. For the first few years of owning their own business, she worked both her day job and did the books for their business at night. Berky and Dude built their dream home in Peoria, AZ in 1996. They then retired and enjoyed their home and became snowbirds escaping the summer heat in their RV, traveling back to Pennsylvania to spend time with extended family and friends.

Berky and Dude raised their daughters in the world of auto racing, quarter-midgets and midgets. They could be found racing with their girls at tracks all over the United States. Even though Berky’s daughters were mostly competing with boys, she was adamant that they be ladies. Berky’s grandchildren were what brought her the most joy. She loved each one with all her heart. She was a PROUD grandma and did not hesitate to tell everyone how fantastic they were. At 90 years old, Berky continued to be spunky and quick witted. Nearing the end of her journey here on Earth, she would talk about what a wonderful life she had, but that she was looking forward to joining Dude, her daughter Denise, and the rest of her family in heaven with her savior, Jesus.

Her final wish in this world was to stay in her “dream home” until she went to heaven. Berky got her wish. She will be greatly missed by her surviving family and friends.