KEITH EDMOND BEERY

Keith Edmond Beery Keith Edmond Beery passed away on October 6, 2010 at his home in San Rafael, California. Keith was born January 8, 1932 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Arlington E. and Bernice (Chambers) Beery. He and his older brother, Arlie Jr. attended South High School in Denver. Keith earned a BS in Law and an MA in Psychology from Denver University, followed by a doctorate in Child Development and Clinical Psychology at Purdue, with post-graduate work at the U. of Illinois. Keith met and fell in love with Mary Joan Groene, who had moved to Denver from her home in Donnellson, Iowa. They were married in Tokyo, Japan on September 1, 1956 during his service in the Army Security Agency as a Russian linguist. Keith began his career as a school psychologist in the San Rafael City Schools before becoming Chief Psychologist and Research Director of the Child Study Unit, Dept. of Pediatrics, at UCSF. Keith was the co-author of the Beery VMI, an internationally respected test of visual-motor integration. His career was devoted to helping children learn and develop, particularly children with special challenges, and to improving the public schools for students and the adults who serve them. Keith and Mary Joan lived in Marinwood for 40 years. They enjoyed taking their four children for camping trips up and down the California coast. After the kids were grown, Keith and Mary Joan lived in Honolulu, where he was on the faculty of the University of Hawaii. They enjoyed swimming and snorkeling in the warm waters of Oahu and the Big Island, and appreciated the multicultural diversity of Hawaii. Keith and Mary Joan returned to Hawaii often, and celebrated their 50th Anniversary on the Big Island with all of their children and grandchildren. They often thought of retiring to Hawaii, but their love of family kept them in Marin. Keith is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Mary Joan, their four children, Natasha, Colleen, John, and Michael, son-in-law William B. McCoy, daughters-in-law Katie (Kirchner) and Julie (Barbee), and eight grandchildren, Maryam, Gregory, Kevin, Julia, Alexis, Ryan, Nicole, and Clara, all of whom he loved dearly, and for whom he made special waffles with secret ingredients, the most important of which was love. A private memorial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions to your local public schools, your favorite charity, or to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation are appreciated.