Berry Kent Bolen

1931 - 2022

Berry Kent Bolen, 91, of Fair Play passed away on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mt. Vernon. Berry was born on Sept. 1, 1931, in Bear Creek, to Zester and Anna Faye Shackelford Bolen. He was a 1950 graduate of Exeter Union High School in Exeter, California. After graduating, Berry joined the United States Marine Corps and served in the Korean War. On Sept. 19, 1952, Berry married Betty Bell Tankersley at the Assembly of God Church in Exeter, California.
Berry and Betty had four children and lived in Exeter, California until 1970, when he moved the family back to his birthplace in Missouri. He was a truck driver and drove for Waterman's while in California. When he moved to Missouri, he began working for Georgia-Pacific, and worked there until he retired in 1993. During retirement, he enjoyed working on the farm and being with his grandchildren. Berry was a deacon at Harvest Assembly of God Church in Fair Play, and spent many hours serving there.
Berry was recently preceded in death by his wife, Betty Bell Bolen, on Oct. 21, 2022. He was also preceded by his parents, Zester and Anna Faye Bolen; his son, Wade Jerone Bolen; his brother, Fred Bolen; and his sister, Donna Sanders.
He is survived by his children, Rodney Kent Bolen (Susie), Kathie Bolen Thompson, and Travis Allen Bolen (Kathy); a daughter-in-law, Tammy Bolen; nine grandchildren, Julie, Arlo, Angie, Jenny, Paula, Tracy, Clint, Brittani, and Brandon; eighteen great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.
A funeral service for Berry will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, at Harvest Assembly of God Church in Fair Play. Interment will follow at Lindley Prairie Cemetery near Fair Play. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Pitts Chapel of Bolivar.