Roll Call Tribute

Memorial Funeral Home obituary
716 2nd Avenue North
Columbus, MS 39701
P: 662-328-4432 | F: 662-328-1095

Lester Joseph Berry
May 26, 1933 - November 18, 2016

Lester Joseph Berry, age 83, died Friday, November 18, 2016 at Baptist Memorial Hospital, Columbus. Memorial services with U.S. Army Honors, will be held Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at 11:00 AM at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Bo Jeffares officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service at the funeral home.

Mr. Berry was born on Friday, May 26, 1933 in Galveston, TX to the late Naomi Davidson Berry and Joe Demsey Berry. He was a communicant of Annunciation Catholic Church, and a U.S. Army Veteran. Lester began his working career on the dry docks in Galveston at age 14. After serving in the Army in Japan and completing his education at St. Thomas University in Houston and Texas A&M in College Station, he met his wife and began work as a salesman with Sherwin Williams Paint Company. Following this position he was in sales and management with Pfizer Company, until he began his career as an executive with 3M Company where he remained a valued employee until he retired. He then began work as an executive with Microtek Medical in Columbus, MS. He officially retired from Microtek and continued to enjoy many years mentoring his children and grandchildren as well as many others and delighting in his 10 great grand children. He enjoyed woodworking, golf and exploring/arguing the mysteries of life, faith and culture with all he met. He had a genuine passion for life and people.

Les was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Toastmasters, Mensa and several men's clubs in Columbus whose members were a real blessing to him. He served on several local boards, including those at the W, MSU and MSMS, most of which focused on the advancement of science and technology. His faith, his family and his friends were his highest priority and his greatest joy. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Sue Coleman Berry.

Survivors include:
Daughters:
Janna Ferrari, Arlington, WA
Debbie Boulware, Columbus, MS
Anna Puckett (Al), Columbus, MS
Son:
Flip Berry (Juline), Atlanta, GA
Sister:
Clarice Morse, Vidor, TX
Grandchildren:
Chris Raef (Zandra)
Savannah Berry
Cole Boulware (Shelby)
Chad Boulware (Chelsea)
Chase Boulware (Nyki)
Elizabeth Haworth (Peter)
A.B. Puckett
Bailey Perez (Lorenzo)
Grace Yeager (Jackson)
10 Great Grandchildren
And many dear friends.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Global Connections, P.O. Box 9630, Columbus, MS
39705 or The St. Vincent de Paul Society, 823 College Street, Columbus, MS 39701.