Ernestelle Berry

Ernestelle Traylor Berry Ernestelle Traylor Berry was born on September 11, 1920, in Hughes Springs, Texas and died peacefully at Westminster Manor in Austin, Texas, on Thursday, May 10, 2007. Ernestelle is survived by her brother, Billy M. Traylor and wife Betty of Winnsboro, Texas, and her sons, Jay Berry of Dallas, Bill Berry of Houston, and Matt Berry and wife Eleanor of Austin. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Shannon Berry of Houston, Matt Berry, Jr. and wife Michelle of Austin, Bremond MacDougall and husband Michael of New York, NY, Sarah Berry Verdi and husband Julio of Cuernavaca, Mexico, and Amy Traylor Berry of Austin. Additionally, she is survived by her great-grandchildren Joseph Losoya, Robert MacDougall, Eleanor Jane MacDougall, Evelyn Berry, and William Berry. She was preceded in death by her parents Lola Mae Williams Traylor and George Ernest (Judge) Traylor, as well as her brother Charles N. (Buck) Traylor. The family is honored to have Matt Berry, Jr., B. Gene Carter, Mike Eledge, Billy Gammon, Sam Graham, Rodney Green, Michael MacDougall, and Mike Mays serve as pallbearers. Ernestelle spent her childhood years in Hughes Springs (Cass County), Texas. Her mother, Lola, was a homemaker who was devoted to taking care of Ernestelle and her two younger brothers. Her father, Judge, graduated in the first class from Baylor University School of Pharmacy and owned and operated Traylor Drug Store in Hughes Springs. Judge Traylor died suddenly from a stroke in 1929, and Ernestelle became her mother's helper in raising her two younger brothers, Buck and Billy. During the depression years of the 1930's Ernestelle moved with her mother and brothers to Commerce, Texas. In Commerce, Ernestelle met and married Joseph Ogden Berry. Following World War II, Ogden was elected to the Texas Legislature in 1946 and served in the Fiftieth Legislative Session representing Hunt County. Ogden's service in the Legislature was Ernestelle's introduction to Austin, the city that would eventually become her home for nearly 50 years. In 1948, Ernestelle became a single mom with three young sons to raise and educate. She moved from Commerce back to Hughes Springs and began her career as a teacher, teaching high school English and French. Before leaving Commerce, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M at Commerce). There was no library in Hughes Springs in 1948, and Ernestelle was instrumental in raising funds to build the first library there. She served as librarian until moving to Austin in 1958. Meanwhile, Ernestelle also continued her education, ultimately receiving a Master of Arts Degree with a major in English and a minor in French, and both a Bachelor and Masters Degree in Library Science. In 1958 Ernestelle's oldest son, Jay, graduated from high school in Hughes Springs, and she was determined that he, and eventually his two younger brothers, would have an opportunity to attend the University of Texas. In the summer of 1958, Ernestelle moved again with her three sons, this time from Hughes Springs to Austin. She had been hired by the Austin Independent School District to teach English at Austin High School, and Jay entered the University of Texas as a freshman in the fall of that year. In Austin, the criteria that Ernestelle had established for where her family would live were the following: (1) It must be in walking distance of church (Hyde Park Baptist); (2) It must be convenient to the University of Texas; and (3) It must be near a bus line for local transportation. She found a home for her family that met her criteria in Hyde Park at 41st and Speedway beneath one of Austin's famous "Moonlight Towers". In addition to teaching English at Austin High, Ernestelle worked evenings and Saturdays at the Austin Public Library. Her interest in library work caused her to make a career change in 1960 from teaching to being a full-time librarian. In 1960 she became Assistant Librarian at Lamar Junior High, and in 1961 she opened the library at Austin's then newest high school, Sidney Lanier High. Ernestelle served as Head Librarian at Lanier from 1961 until her retirement in 1984. After retiring, Ernestelle continued to work many hours each week as a volunteer at the libraries at Hyde Park Baptist Church and St. Andrew's Episcopal School (where she could see her grandchildren, who were students there). She also had time to become an active member of the Austin Womans Club, the Cereus Garden Club, as well as an enthusiastic participant in the Senior Citizen Aqua Fit swim class at Crenshaw's Athletic Club. After her sons had finished at the University, Ernestelle began working on another of her dreams - to see other parts of the world and learn first hand about other cultures. For the next thirty years, Ernestelle was continually planning her next trip. When school was out in the summer, she would usually be off to Europe, often chaperoning a group of high school students. In 2001, Ernestelle made her last trip to Paris, France, to attend the wedding of a young friend from Paris, Judith Hornez, who had lived with her while attending the University of Texas as a graduate student. In March of this year, Judith, now married and the mother of two children (one named Ernestelle!), made a special trip to Austin from France to see her friend and mentor who she now called her "American Grandmother". Ernestelle had so many, many special friends like Judith. The same love and support that Ernestelle had for her sons was showered on her grandchildren. As a grandmother she decided that she would like for her grandchildren to call her "Oma". Over time, she became Oma to all of the family. In recent years, Oma would really light up when she saw her great grandchildren. Other of Ernestelle's passions were music and the arts. She could never get enough of opera, the symphony, Broadway musicals, or theatre. She loved art and went to galleries and museums throughout the world. On Saturday afternoons, when Oma usually cleaned house, she would always listen to opera, turned to a very high volume so she could hear it over the vacuum cleaner! Ernestelle had a full and happy life that revolved around her family, her many friends, her teaching, running her library, and traveling. She became a teacher and librarian by profession, but her life was a reflection of her goodness towards others and her strength to accomplish what she felt was important, often overcoming almost insurmountable odds. We love you, Oma. Services for Ernestelle are scheduled Monday, May 14th at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary of Hyde Park Baptist Church, 40th and Speedway in Austin. A graveside service and burial will be held at Hughes Springs Cemetery, Hughes Springs, Texas, on Tuesday, May 15th at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the library at St. Andrew's Episcopal School, 1112 West 31st Street, Austin, Texas 78705. Obituary and guestbook online at http://wcfish.com