TRAVERSE CITY — John Lewis Beery, 97, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the Willow Cottage at Grand Traverse Pavilions, where he had been a resident for several years.
Mr. Beery was born on Oct. 15, 1911, in St. Louis, Mich., to Jesse and Addie (Humphrey) Beery. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wives, Mildred (1958) and Isabelle (2000); and his brothers, Dale and Max.
John is survived by his children, Patricia (John) Wright and John W. (Margaret) Beery; his grandchildren, James Wright, Rebecca Wright-Stacy, Andrew Wright, John Charles Beery, Michael D. Beery and Maryanne Beery; his great-grandchildren, Megan, Colin and Kyle Wright, Jacob, Lauren and Zachery Stacy, John William and Sara Beery, Meggie and Clara (Beery) Snyder; and his sister, Eunice Michaels.
During Mr. Beery's long life, he was known as a kind and gentle man with a sense of humor and a good word for nearly everyone.
From 1942 to 1959 he was employed as a cook at Michigan State University. Three summers in the mid-1950s he served Interlochen Center for the Arts as head cook in the Stone Student Center. After moving to Paradise, Mich., he became an employee of the State Parks, where he spent the last 15 years of his working career.
A quietly spiritual man, his church attendance had been in the Paradise Baptist Church in Paradise, Sunnyside Baptist in Cadillac and East Bay Calvary in Traverse City. John often played his violin for Sunday services, led song service and performed on the violin for friends and family.
Mr. Berry's funeral service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m., with visitation one hour prior, at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. The Rev. Kendale Dennis will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in St. Louis, Mich.
Memorial donations can be directed to the Grand Traverse Pavilions.
The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, Traverse City.
This obituary was originally published in the Record-Eagle.
