Howard Herman Berry

Funeral service for Howard Herman Berry will be 10 a.m., Monday, Oct. 3, at First Baptist Church of Inola, with Rev. Blake Gideon officiating. Burial with military honors by the U.S. Marine Corps will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, Tulsa, under the direction of Inola Funeral Home & Crematory. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Sun. 1-6 p.m., and family will greet friends 5-6 p.m.

Howard died Wed., Sept. 28, 2011, at St. John's Hospital, Tulsa, at the age of 90.

The son of George Roland and Anna Maude (VanWhy) Berry was born Sept. 5, 1921, in Verdigris. Howard attended school in Tulsa. At the age of 13 he went to work in a packing house; and within a year he was managing the cutting floor. Just before his 21st birthday, on Aug. 19, 1942, Howard joined the Marines and served for four years as a field cook. He completed active service on Aug. 22, 1946. He was an Iwo Jima survivor as part of the 28th Division, 5th Marine Corps. Howard later worked for Chevron and Gulf in Interstate Commerce. He retired from Warren Petroleum in 1981. Howard met his future wife, Helen Marie Slemp while horseback riding in 1941. In 1947, they were married in Tulsa, where they made their home before moving to Inola in 1960. They enjoyed raising sheep and caring for their horses. Helen died in 1990. On Dec. 27, 1992, Howard married Martha Jane Gittinger Gottfried in their daughter's family room in Salem, OR. Their son-in-law, William Davis, officiated the service. Howard was a past President of the Inola Round-up Club, and served on the Rural Water District #6 board for 30 years. Howard enjoyed raising his prize winning ducks and chickens, and growing beautiful roses. He also enjoyed spending time with his family, and storytelling. He was a member of First Baptist Church.

Howard is preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Helen; unborn son, Howard Berry; 3 infant siblings; and siblings: John, James Thomas, George, Jr., Newt, Edgar, Nadine, and Geraldine.

He is survived by his Wife, Martha of the home; Daughters: Lynda Jackson and husband, Michael of Granite Falls, WA, Katrina Davis and husband, William of Salem, OR, and Rebecca Cox and husband, David of Lincoln, CA; Brother, George Berry and wife, Glatha of Tulsa; Sisters-in-law: Charlene Berry of Georgia, Charlotte Slemp of Tulsa, and Annelle Lanford of Tulsa; Grandchildren: Elizabeth Jackson, Matthew Jackson, Beth Marie Brewer and husband, Paul, Josh Davis and wife, Jessica, Gabe Davis, Melissa Lindsay and husband, Jason, Corinne Crowder and husband, Duane, and Rachel Cox; Great-grandchildren: Liam Brewer, Emma Berry Brewer, Benjamin Brewer, Avery Davis, Addison Davis, Ethan Lindsay, Samuel Lindsay, Isabella Lindsay, Abigail Crowder, Ian Crowder, and Alexis Crowder; Nephews: Phillip Berry and wife, Jeane of Georgia, Jim Duggan and wife, Lisa of Nowata, George Berry, III and wife, Roanna of Tulsa, Dale Berry of Tulsa, David Berry of Wasso, Arthur Berry, Ace "Buddy" Slemp and wife, Kathy of Broken Arrow, and Johnny Lanford of Tulsa; and Nieces: Nancy McCallom and husband, Ted of Plano, TX, and Alison Kaye and husband, Adam of Overland Park, KS.

Memorial contributions may be made to World Missions Offering, c/o First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 160, Inola, OK 74036.