Mrs. Margaret Berry

Margaret Berry passed away on February 19, 2009 at home with loving family and friends by her side. Born in Detroit in 1926 to Scottish immigrants, James and Jenny (Walker) Watson, Margaret had 3 brothers, Charles, Bill and Jim. Margaret’s father, a sailor and soldier in his youth worked as a Teamster and supported the family well through the Great Depression. A gifted student, Margaret excelled at Alma College, and there she met Verne Berry, just returned from WWII duty on a destroyer in the South Pacific. Verne and Margaret married in 1947, traveling and studying the U.S. and Mexico before beginning careers in journalism and teaching in Michigan. They brought 5 children into the world in the 1950’s and also relocated several times, including a stint in California. By 1963 the Berrys were settled into a landmark Victorian home at 213 Elm Street, Margaret’s abode and pride for the next 40 years. Margaret made an extraordinary home on Elm Street, and a welcome place for an extended and diverse community of friends who came for conversation, advice, shelter, band-aids, coffee or scrabble games, delivered with love by Margaret and Verne. In their home and carriage house they sponsored local artists and foreign students. Their appreciation of the arts and travel was conveyed to their children. Margaret returned to teaching in 1967, working at Continuing Education for Young Families, an innovative public school for pregnant students. Margaret transformed the lives of many young women over 15 years, teaching them biology, pre-natal and infant care and critical life skills. She created one of the first family planning curricula in the U.S. Margaret and Verne retired in the early 1980’s, enjoying friends and time their cottage at Lake Michigan Beach, and traveled to Europe and Africa. Margaret was active in the community as well, working with ALPA to save Asylum Lake from development and volunteering at Woodward School well into her 70’s. Verne died in 1998. Margaret is survived by her children; Chris, Jim, Tom, Meg and Joan Berry and granddaughters; Hannah Berry Kinley, Loren RothBerry and Emily Margaret Berry. Friends and family will gather at Margaret’s home at 1715 Marywood, Kalamazoo on Sunday between 2:00 and 5:00. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan for their concern and care during Margaret’s illness.

Mrs. Margaret Berry

January 26, 1926 - February 19, 2009