Don Howard Berry

Don Howard Berry, 95 years old, passed away in his home of 30 plus years in Hiawassee Georgia on Saturday, March 28.

Don was born on the family farm just outside Forest, Indiana on January 27, 1931 to Ophir John Berry and Waneta Brammell Berry.

From a young age he developed a strong work ethic helping with farm chores and working fields alongside his older brother, Max and younger brother, Rex. All his life, he could repair nearly anything and maintained a fiercely independent farm-raised spirit.

Don graduated from Forest High School alongside just 13 other seniors in 1949. He played on the basketball team there, sang in musicals, and learned to play the trombone. His lifetime love of music began in high school. The family attended (and his brother, Rex, still attends) West Point Christian Church near Russiaville, IN.

In 1953 Don graduated from Purdue University with a B.S in Agricultural Economics. There, he played in the band and later sang tenor in the Varsity Glee Club. He joined the Navy shortly after and while assigned to the Naval Supply Corp School in Athens, GA, met his best friend and love of his life, Ann Brewer. Their shared faith and passion for music drew them together. After a whirlwind romance, this Yankee traveled to Waycross GA and somehow gained the blessing of Ann's family. They married in Waycross in 1955 while he was on leave.

Don served for two years as the supply officer aboard a destroyer escort during the Korean War. After discharge, he took his bride north to Ann Arbor, MI where he earned his MBA at the University of Michigan in the spring of 1957. Shortly after beginning his career in Purchasing at Proctor & Gamble in Cincinnati, OH, the couple had their first child, Nancy Lynn Berry, in late 1957. David Don Berry came three years later. They then moved to Indianapolis for a short time and on to Elkhart, IN, where Don enjoyed a successful 18-year career at Miles Laboratories. Their third child, James Carlton Berry was born there in 1970.

In Elkhart, Don served as a church deacon and elder, as well as chairing several significant committees at Central Christian Church where he and Ann sang in the choir and made close, forever friendships. The family lived in various homes around Elkhart County and then moved to a small town in western Massachusetts in early 1984. Jim finished high school there and Don finished his professional career after 7 years with Tambrands. They were then free to move wherever they wished, and Don agreed to finally return Ann to her home state by retiring in Hiawassee in the North Georgia mountains, a summer family retreat for many years prior and a spot closer to the Brewer family.

Ann and Don lived happily there on the lake for over 30 years, opening their home as often as possible to family and friends while serving a church and the community with passion and competence. He was a lover of nature, a prolific photographer and, later in life, an amateur genealogist. His lifelong thirst for knowledge led Don to attend classes through the Institute for Continuing Learning at Young Harris College. He also volunteered his time with civic activities and helped get Hamilton Gardens off the ground. He got himself “off the ground” when he learned to fly an ultralight!

When Ann was diagnosed with Lewey Body Dementia, Don cared for her with amazing loyalty and compassion for over 12 years. His servant heart set a beautiful example to follow. With assistance from time to time, Don lived largely alone following Ann’s death in 2015, and took care of himself to within just a few weeks of succumbing to congestive heart failure.

Don was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years Ann Brewer Berry, his son James Berry, his brother Max Berry, sister-in-law Betty Orr Berry, brother-in-law Rev. Donald C. Brewer and sister-in-law Nancy Smith Brewer. He is survived by his daughter Nancy Berry Woods of Fayetteville, GA, (Alan Woods), son David Berry of Alpharetta, GA (Melissa Hudson Berry), grandsons Cory Woods, Kenny Woods, Jonathan Berry (Lauren Maelyn Berry), Andrew Berry, and Michael Berry, brother Rex Berry and his wife Virginia Berry of Kokomo, IN, and brother-in-law Joel H. Brewer, esq. (Ginger Webb) of Roxboro, NC. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews who all loved their Uncle Don, or Uncle Berry as some called him.

We will miss our rock; our loving father, brother, grandad, uncle, and friend as he is whisked away on the winds of heaven over Lake Chatuge.

If you wish, in lieu of flowers or meals, please donate in his memory to any of the following: Sweet Comfort Hospice or Hamilton Gardens in Hiawassee, GA, Wilderness Scouts of America, the Arthritis Foundation, or the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.