Lorene "Nana" Frances Thompson Berkman

Lorene Thompson, 'Nana' Berkman, a loving Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Sister, and friend went to be with her lord on February 15, 2011. She was 90 years of age and a member of the First Baptist Church in Bishop. She was born to Hilda and Floyd Thompson on January 6, 1921 in La Pryor, Texas. The family migrated to South Texas and in 1934 moved to Bishop. She graduated from Bishop High School as Valedictorian in 1938 and attended Mary Hardin Baylor College in Belton for a year. She was employed as a bookkeeper at Shaw Jewelry Company in Corpus Christi for 3 years while her fiancé, Gilbert Berkman was at war in India. Upon his return home, they were married November 30, 1944 and they were sent to Fort George Wright in Spokane, Washington. While they were there she was employed as a bookkeeper for Pratt Furniture Company. At the war's end, they returned to Bishop to make their home. Lorene was a faithful servant of the Lord and an active and productive member of the First Baptist Church. She was a Sunday School Teacher, G.A. director, and WMU member. She was also active in civic and school activities. She served on the executive committees for the town's 50th and 75th celebrations. She was a member of The Bishop Cancer Society Board, a member of the Nifty Needle Sewing Club, and President of P.T.A. In 1970 she was awarded the Citizen of the Year award by the Chamber of Commerce.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Gilbert.

She is survived by three daughters, Janet (Ray) Bunting of Wills Point, Karen (Haley) Winters of League City, and Patti (Fred) Shafer of Katy. Seven grandchildren include Jason (Stefanie) Bunting, Wade (Andrea) Winters, Justin (Sheree) Bunting, Kaley (Jason) Huette, Kyle (Marne) Shafer, Kandy (Brad) Lankford, and Loren (Chad) Williamson. Thirteen great grandchildren include Madison, Luke, Daniel, Joel, and Caleb Bunting, Reece, Rylan, and Adilynne Winters, Kohen and Kamryn Lankford, Van Huette, and Hudson and Sydney Shafer. Three sisters include Louise Blair of Houston, Dot Atkeisson of Albuquerque, Ruth Ann (Johnny) Canville of Rio Hondo and one brother, Joe Thompson of Dalhart and many nieces and nephews. A special thanks to Dorothy Alvarez for her loving care.

Visitation will be at Turcotte Piper Mortuary on Thursday, February 17, 2011 from 3:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. with family receiving friends from 5:30 P.M. - 6:30 P.M. Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church at 2:00PM on Friday, February 18, 2011. Burial will follow at Restland Memorial Cemetery in Bishop, Texas.

Pall bearers are her grandsons and grand son-in-laws: Jason and Justin Bunting, Wade Winters, Brad Lankford, Jason Huette, Kyle Shafer, and Chad Williamson.

Honorary Pall bearers are Kenneth Nelson, Clarence Frels, Bill Staff, C.J. Maher, Herb Danmier, O'Neal Towery.

Memorial Gifts to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Lorene Berkman may be made to the First Baptist Church, 311 East 5th Street Bishop, TX 78343 .

Services entrusted to Turcotte-Piper Mortuary, 205 General Cavazos Blvd. Kingsville, Texas 78363. Condolences may be offered by visiting turcottepipermortuary.com