Obituary of Margaret J. Berry

Margaret J. Berry, age 99 years and 10 months, of Osage Beach, Missouri passed away on December 9, 2017 at Lakeside Meadows Care Center. Her legacy of wisdom, gentleness, quiet strength, and deep loving care will be cherished by those who love her and were loved by her.

Margaret was born on February 6, 1918 in Earlington, Kentucky. She was the daughter of John and Katherine Evelyn (Meinkoth) Jennings. She always liked to say that she was a “coal miner’s daughter”.

On April 1, 1944, in St. Louis, Missouri, she was united in marriage to the love of her life, George M. Berry. They shared 48 years of marriage together until the time of his death on January 13, 1992.

In her earlier years, she was the Salutatorian of her high school class in New Baden, Illinois. During World War II, Margaret worked for doctors at Curtis Wright Air Base conducting physicals for newly enlisted men heading to service. She started making quilts in 1959 and in her lifetime made an astounding 1,283 quilts which continue to blanket beds across the Midwest.

Margaret loved reading and was an avid hand and foot card player. She was a member of Harper Chapel United Methodist Church of Osage Beach, Missouri and a trusted advisor and friend to many. Her greatest joys in life were being a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Margaret is survived by her son, John McDonald Berry, and his wife Janet of Osage Beach, Missouri; one granddaughter, Andrea Hipps, and her husband Todd Zuercher; and two great grandchildren, Harper and Hadley Hipps.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Berry; her parents John and Katherine Jennings; her brother Earnest Jennings; and her sister Alice Wrinkle.

Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 15, 2017 at Harper Chapel United Methodist Church in Osage Beach, Missouri. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time.

Graveside service will be held Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Rose Hill Cemetery in Mt. Carmel, Illinois.

Memorials are suggested to the Choir Fund at Harper Chapel United Methodist Church in Osage Beach, Missouri.