Mary Jo Armstrong Berryman

Mary Jo Armstrong Berryman, 83, passed away on Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, in Fort Worth.Her family will greet friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, at Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home.A Eucharist of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011, at All Saints Episcopal Church. Burial in Greenwood Memorial Park will be private. Craig Collins, Earl Collins, Dr. Mark Collins, Robert Wright, Martin Thompson, John Melcher and Dr. Russ Lambert will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers include Willis Brown, Jack Roach, George Moore, Wade Harral, Dr. John David Pumphrey, Jim Murray and Bob Cocanower.Mary Jo was born June 23, 1928, in Fort Worth, daughter of the late William Franklin and Sewanee VanCleave Armstrong. She graduated from Paschal High School a year ahead of her class as valedictorian of the summer class. She received her bachelor's of art in political science from Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, Va. She also did graduate work on her masters of business administration at UT in Austin. She was selected as one of 250 students in the United States to attend Oxford University in England and studied international economics. She also attended McGill University in Montreal, Canada, to study French.After employment as an intelligence officer for the CIA, Mary Jo started her real estate career in Fort Worth in January 1970. She was associated with Wm. Rigg and was sales manager of the Westside office in 1977. She joined Henry S. Miller and managed the Fort Worth sales office as vice president until they were acquired by NRT in 2001. She then became branch manager of the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Westside sales office where she oversaw activities of 75-80 associates. In January 2006, She opened the Fort Worth office of Virginia Cook Realtors as vice president branch manager.Mary Jo served on nearly every board and committee of the Greater Fort Worth Association of Realtors, including the Board of Directors in 1990, and received the Al Purvis Distinguished Service Award in 2002. She served as director of the Texas Association of Realtors from 1994-2006 and received the TAR Distinguished Service Award in 2003. She served as president of the Texas Chapter of CRB from January 2005-2007. She was honored in 2004 by the Business Press as one of the Great Women of Texas. Her professional designations included GRI, CRS, CRB, ABR and SRES. Some of the high points of her career have included her service as president of the Greater Fort Worth Association of Realtors in 1996, her selection as Realtor of the Year in 1997, winner of the Texas Association of Realtors Distinguished Service Award in 2005, and service as president of the Texas Chapter of Certified Residential Brokers in 2005. On Nov. 14, 2011, Mary Jo was awarded the status of Realtor Emeritus by the National Association of Realtors.Her civic involvement included the Tarrant County Association of the Blind, Junior League of Fort Worth, Junior League Garden Club, Tarrant County Cancer Society, Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club, Fort Worth Lecture Foundation, All Saints Episcopal Church, Historic Fort Worth, Tarrant County Historical Society, Junior Women's Club, The Woman's Club of Fort Worth, Tarrant County Medical Auxiliary and Medical Dames, Modern Museum of Art, Amon Carter Museum, Kimbell Museum, All Saints Hospital auxiliary, March of Dimes, Jail 'n Bail Fund Raisers. Sh also volunteered for Mayfest, Main Street Arts Festival, Octoberfest and the Senior Citizens Fair. She also participated in precinct activities and served as an election judge.She is survived by her children, Courtney Wilson and husband, John, of Summerville, S.C., Frank Berryman and wife, Jennifer Cox, of Nashville, Tenn., Chandler Dortch and husband, George, of Rolla, Mo., Megan Izykowski and husband, Ken, of Fort Worth; grandchildren, Ashley Smith, Ryan Smith, Alec Berryman, Alison Berryman; great-grandson, Logan Smith; her special friend and angel, Karen Gourley; and her beloved dogs, Maggie and Millie.In keeping with Mary Jo's wishes, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Choir of All Saints' Episcopal Church, 5001 Crestline Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76017; The Humane Society of North Texas, 1840 E. Lancaster, Fort Worth, Texas 76103; or a charity of your choice.