Garylee Berry, 78, devoted husband, father and grandfather, passed away on Jan. 12, 2017, in Lewiston.
He was born on Dec. 12, 1938, in LaGrande, Ore., to Clarence Oscar and Effie Treny (Blanchard) Berry. He spent his younger years living in Pondosa and LaGrande, Ore., and Lind, Wash. In 1950, the family moved to Warden, Wash., where he graduated from Warden High School. He excelled in math and later on continued his education at Columbia Basin College.
In February of 1958, he married his high school sweetheart, Alta Rae Starr. Together they had five sons: Earl Jan born in Othello, Wash.; Lee, born in LaGrande, Ore.; and Stephen Lynn, Daniel Ray and Troy Jay, all born in Japan.
He served in the military from November, 1956, to Oct. 30, 1978, in the U.S. Army, spending much of the time as a medical photographer until he retired. He served in Japan, Korea, Germany and several states in the United States.
In July of 1978, the family moved to West Richland, Wash., and Garylee retired from the U.S. Army. He worked in the civil engineering field as a CAD supervisor and designer in the Tri-Cities area.
Garylee was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in various positions. He and his first wife, Rae, served in both the Seattle and Columbia River temples until she passed away Oct. 26, 2003.
On Nov. 5, 2004, after Garylee married Eva M. Kunz Johnson in the Columbia River Temple, he moved to Lewiston. Together, they served in the Spokane Temple and served a full-time mission for the church in the Lewiston area. One of his favorite hymns was “Because I Have Been Given Much, I too Must Give.” This became his motto for service for the remainder of his life.
His hobbies included shooting at the gun range, working with wood and making beautiful bowls, family history, computers and “honey-do jobs!” He had a great love for model airplanes and loved to fly with other members of the Lewis-Clark RC Model Club. One of his great desires was to become an airline pilot, but because of astigmatism, he was disqualified. He was a perfectionist in anything he endeavored to do and disliked shoddy workmanship.
He is survived by his wife, Eva, in Lewiston; sons Lee (Brenda) Berry, Indiana, Stephen (Darlene) Berry, Ohio, Daniel (Fowler-Jean) Berry, Florida, and Troy (Theresa) Berry, California; step-daughters Jackie Oakes, Lewiston, and Janis Johnson, Moscow; and step-son Scott Johnson, St. Maries. He is also survived by 22 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren; sisters Geri Noble, Richland, Barbara (Clark) DeMille, Layton, Utah, and Joan (Lorin) Lybbert, Moses Lake, Wash.
He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Rae; son Earl; grandsons Nathan Berry, Brayden Berry and Michael Hilton; stepson James Leonard Johnson; and stepson-in-law Levi Oakes.
Services will be held in Lewiston at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, with visitation starting one hour prior to the funeral service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saits, at Ninth and Preston. Burial with full military honors will be the following day at noon at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, at 1401 S. Union St., Kennewick. Funeral arrangements are by Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home in Lewiston.
Service Information
- Date & Time
- Tuesday, January 17, 11:00 AM
- Location
-
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - Lewiston Idaho Stake Center
836 Preston Avenue
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
Get Directions - Additional Details
- Burial will take place Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at Desert Lawn Memorial Park in Kennewick, Wa.
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