Ocala Star-Banner (FL) - September 13, 2001
OCALA -- Martin M. Berry always had candy in his pocket to hand out to children during Sunday services at St. Mark's United Methodist Church.
The 89-year-old Ocala man helped establish the church in 1950. He attended services there until his health started to fail. He died Wednesday.
"He loved the children and they loved him," church secretary Shirley Harville said. "He was a charter member and all of his family was raised in the church."
The church's pastor said Berry was instrumental in the design of the church's Family Life Center. The center was finished about two months ago, and he was able to visit it before his death.
"He had a dream that we could build a Family Life Center," pastor Dan Jones said. "It was a dream to see his building, and he wanted us to have a red roof on the building."
Before moving to Ocala in 1945, he worked for Bell Aircraft making B-29 Boomer in Marietta, Ga. He later owned and operated Berry Gas Service until 1963.
He also helped establish the Florida LP Gas Association to adopt laws and regulations for the safe use of propane gas. Berry later owned Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens.
"He was one of the founders who helped Ocala be what it is today," his son, Jerry Berry, said. "He was highly respected by everyone, he helped a lot of people."
He also was a life member of the Ocala Kiwanis Club, where he helped set up the cooking equipment for the annual pancake breakfasts. Another member who knew him for about 50 years remembers him fondly.
"He was a very fine gentleman," Gordon Skipper said. "He was a very easygoing, friendly type fellow."
Another member, Jim Kirk, said he could always count on Berry to get things done for the club.
"He was a wonderful man," Kirk said. "He couldn't be unkind to anyone. On a scale of one to 10, he was a 12."
Berry also was a past master of Marston Masonic Lodge and the Morocco Temple.
Survivors include his daughter, Linda Barber, Ocala; sons, James Berry, Largo, and Jerry Berry, Tallahassee; sister, Susan McBride, Ocala; brother, John Berry, Chipley; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
A service will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark's United Methodist Church.
OCALA -- Martin M. Berry always had candy in his pocket to hand out to children during Sunday services at St. Mark's United Methodist Church.
The 89-year-old Ocala man helped establish the church in 1950. He attended services there until his health started to fail. He died Wednesday.
"He loved the children and they loved him," church secretary Shirley Harville said. "He was a charter member and all of his family was raised in the church."
The church's pastor said Berry was instrumental in the design of the church's Family Life Center. The center was finished about two months ago, and he was able to visit it before his death.
"He had a dream that we could build a Family Life Center," pastor Dan Jones said. "It was a dream to see his building, and he wanted us to have a red roof on the building."
Before moving to Ocala in 1945, he worked for Bell Aircraft making B-29 Boomer in Marietta, Ga. He later owned and operated Berry Gas Service until 1963.
He also helped establish the Florida LP Gas Association to adopt laws and regulations for the safe use of propane gas. Berry later owned Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens.
"He was one of the founders who helped Ocala be what it is today," his son, Jerry Berry, said. "He was highly respected by everyone, he helped a lot of people."
He also was a life member of the Ocala Kiwanis Club, where he helped set up the cooking equipment for the annual pancake breakfasts. Another member who knew him for about 50 years remembers him fondly.
"He was a very fine gentleman," Gordon Skipper said. "He was a very easygoing, friendly type fellow."
Another member, Jim Kirk, said he could always count on Berry to get things done for the club.
"He was a wonderful man," Kirk said. "He couldn't be unkind to anyone. On a scale of one to 10, he was a 12."
Berry also was a past master of Marston Masonic Lodge and the Morocco Temple.
Survivors include his daughter, Linda Barber, Ocala; sons, James Berry, Largo, and Jerry Berry, Tallahassee; sister, Susan McBride, Ocala; brother, John Berry, Chipley; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
A service will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark's United Methodist Church.
Ocala Star-Banner (FL) - September 13, 2001
OCALA -- Martin M. Berry always had candy in his pocket to hand out to children during Sunday services at St. Mark's United Methodist Church.
The 89-year-old Ocala man helped establish the church in 1950. He attended services there until his health started to fail. He died Wednesday.
"He loved the children and they loved him," church secretary Shirley Harville said. "He was a charter member and all of his family was raised in the church."
The church's pastor said Berry was instrumental in the design of the church's Family Life Center. The center was finished about two months ago, and he was able to visit it before his death.
"He had a dream that we could build a Family Life Center," pastor Dan Jones said. "It was a dream to see his building, and he wanted us to have a red roof on the building."
Before moving to Ocala in 1945, he worked for Bell Aircraft making B-29 Boomer in Marietta, Ga. He later owned and operated Berry Gas Service until 1963.
He also helped establish the Florida LP Gas Association to adopt laws and regulations for the safe use of propane gas. Berry later owned Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens.
"He was one of the founders who helped Ocala be what it is today," his son, Jerry Berry, said. "He was highly respected by everyone, he helped a lot of people."
He also was a life member of the Ocala Kiwanis Club, where he helped set up the cooking equipment for the annual pancake breakfasts. Another member who knew him for about 50 years remembers him fondly.
"He was a very fine gentleman," Gordon Skipper said. "He was a very easygoing, friendly type fellow."
Another member, Jim Kirk, said he could always count on Berry to get things done for the club.
"He was a wonderful man," Kirk said. "He couldn't be unkind to anyone. On a scale of one to 10, he was a 12."
Berry also was a past master of Marston Masonic Lodge and the Morocco Temple.
Survivors include his daughter, Linda Barber, Ocala; sons, James Berry, Largo, and Jerry Berry, Tallahassee; sister, Susan McBride, Ocala; brother, John Berry, Chipley; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
A service will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark's United Methodist Church.
OCALA -- Martin M. Berry always had candy in his pocket to hand out to children during Sunday services at St. Mark's United Methodist Church.
The 89-year-old Ocala man helped establish the church in 1950. He attended services there until his health started to fail. He died Wednesday.
"He loved the children and they loved him," church secretary Shirley Harville said. "He was a charter member and all of his family was raised in the church."
The church's pastor said Berry was instrumental in the design of the church's Family Life Center. The center was finished about two months ago, and he was able to visit it before his death.
"He had a dream that we could build a Family Life Center," pastor Dan Jones said. "It was a dream to see his building, and he wanted us to have a red roof on the building."
Before moving to Ocala in 1945, he worked for Bell Aircraft making B-29 Boomer in Marietta, Ga. He later owned and operated Berry Gas Service until 1963.
He also helped establish the Florida LP Gas Association to adopt laws and regulations for the safe use of propane gas. Berry later owned Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens.
"He was one of the founders who helped Ocala be what it is today," his son, Jerry Berry, said. "He was highly respected by everyone, he helped a lot of people."
He also was a life member of the Ocala Kiwanis Club, where he helped set up the cooking equipment for the annual pancake breakfasts. Another member who knew him for about 50 years remembers him fondly.
"He was a very fine gentleman," Gordon Skipper said. "He was a very easygoing, friendly type fellow."
Another member, Jim Kirk, said he could always count on Berry to get things done for the club.
"He was a wonderful man," Kirk said. "He couldn't be unkind to anyone. On a scale of one to 10, he was a 12."
Berry also was a past master of Marston Masonic Lodge and the Morocco Temple.
Survivors include his daughter, Linda Barber, Ocala; sons, James Berry, Largo, and Jerry Berry, Tallahassee; sister, Susan McBride, Ocala; brother, John Berry, Chipley; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
A service will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark's United Methodist Church.
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