Neva Ethel Berry

She was born December 6, 1918, in Coyle, Oklahoma, the middle child of nine, to Walter and Metta Stewart Bridenstine. As a baby, she contracted but survived the flu during the epidemic that caused more than 20 million deaths worldwide. Her two youngest brothers Calvin and Leslie died young after contracting polio and diphtheria.

Raised on a small red dirt farm, the entire family worked the fields – chopping weeds in the corn, shocking cane and picking cotton. During the dark days of the Depression and Dust Bowl, she excelled at Progress School, a two-room country school, then graduated from Coyle High School, where she played guard on the basketball team. Neva attended church at the nearby Friends Chapel, where she began her lifelong walk with the Lord.

She launched her college education at Friends Bible College in Haviland, Kansas. Determined to become a teacher, she transferred to Fort Hays Teachers College in Hays, Kansas, and received a three-year teaching certificate. Years later, after raising five children, she would go back to Fort Hays and earn a master’s degree.

Neva’s first teaching assignment took her to Shannon School, a two-room school in Russell County, Kansas, where she would teach the lower grades. She boarded with the pastor and his wife in the parsonage of the Shannon Friends Church, where she would meet her future husband, Lester M. Berry.

Lester joined the Army before Pearl Harbor and served throughout World War II with the 3rd Armored Division in Europe. Before he went overseas, the two were married on January 8, 1943, at Friends Chapel, Coyle, Oklahoma.

During the war, Neva finished her college degree at Wesley Methodist College in Marion, Indiana, while working in a defense plant, the Anaconda Wire Company, where she put rubber patches on large undersea cables.

After the war, Neva and Les returned to Kansas, taking over the family farm, where five children were born and raised. Neva returned to teaching in 1960. Les farmed, pumped oil wells, drove a milk truck and ran a radio/TV repair business. During that time, they put all five children through college and Neva earned her master’s degree.

Neva was an active member and church leader at Shannon Friends Church, where she taught Sunday School and was active in the Missionary Society.

In 1966, the Berrys moved off the farm to Russell, where Neva taught school and became active in the Otterbein United Methodist Church, Les operated a full-service gas station and the children attended school. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.

Neva and Les retired together in 1984 and moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas, where they were active in golfing, camping, RVing, the Good Sam Club, square dancing and traveling. Among their many RV trips, they drove the Alaska Highway on its 50th Anniversary.

In 1996 they moved to Norman, Oklahoma, to be near family. There, Neva and Les were active members of Goodrich United Methodist Church, where Neva taught Sunday School, was active in the Goodrich Chronologically Gifted (the GCGers) group and the Women’s Small Group Bible Study. As a member of the Chorus, she serenaded area nursing homes and traveled to Washington, D.C.

Les died in 2001.

In 2004, the five Berry children escorted their mother on a two-week odyssey to Ireland and the Isle of Man, exploring Berry and Stewart family roots, seeing the sights and enjoying their final family road trip. Neva would say the journey was a highlight of her life.

In 2013, Neva moved from her Norman home to The Gardens at Rivermont, where she remained active and involved in activities and field trips.

She was preceded in death by her parents; all eight of her siblings, Olaf, Val, Hiram, Thora, Dea, Earl, Calvin and Leslie; her husband Lester; and her son Galen.

Survivors include her sons, Stuart and Pauline Berry of Talala, Oklahoma, and Dave and Martha Berry of Tyler, Texas; daughters, Maryl Berry of Overland Park, Kansas, and Cindy and Jim Pennington of Norman, Oklahoma; grandchildren Amos and Russell Berry, Christina and Karen Berry and Parker and Paxton Pennington; and six great-grandchildren.

Family visitation will take place at Primrose Funeral Service at 1109 N. Porter Ave., Norman, Oklahoma, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 18. Funeral services will be held at Goodrich Memorial United Methodist Church, 200 W. Hays St., Norman, Oklahoma, at 10 a.m. Friday, June 19, with pastor Jim Shephard officiating. Graveside services will follow at 2:30 in Oak Grove Cemetery, east of Coyle, Oklahoma.

Special thanks to the Gardens at Rivermont staff and residents for their friendship; Dominica at Carter Healthcare for her consistent professional care; Dr. Tom Merrill and nurse Pam for their expertise; Goodrich GCGers Chorus and Women’s Small Group for their love; and Billie Duncan for being a solid rock and helping in so many ways.

Neva never wavered from her Christian faith and continued inspiring and mentoring others throughout her life, saying she wanted this service to be “one of celebration and praise to God for being with me every mile of my journey home.”