Joan Noyes Berry

A celebration of the life of Joan Noyes Berry, of Longview, will be 11:00 AM Thursday, February 7, 2008 at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Pat Sparks, Dr. Conrad Winborn, and Reverend David Lindwall officiating. Joan was born October 21, 1932 in Riverside, CA to Edgar Turner Noyes and Ray Lenore Baldus Noyes. She attended Texas State College for Women and graduated University of Texas at Austin in 1954 with Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. Mrs. Berry worked with her husband, Fred, in founding and operating Berry Transportation, Inc. and was its President and Chief Executive Officer prior to her retirement, and served on the Longview City Council from 1988 through 1992, and on numerous city boards and committees. As a member of First United Methodist Church, she served on the Administrative Board, and was a member of the Henry Foster Sunday School Class. She was also a member of Zonta Club, co-founder of Longview Spring Arts Festival, and a member of the Rotary Club of Longview. Keenly interested in her family history, Joan was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and was a noted genealogist. In her service to the citizens of Longview, Joan brought a good business sense to the City Council, tempered by appreciation of and compassion to city employees, especially the fire and police departments. Joan was respectful of opposing views and was known for being honest and keeping the promises or commitments she made. Joan had close relationships with her children and grandchildren and enjoyed sharing stories of her youth with her grandchildren. Joan was preceded in death by: her father, Col. Edgar T. Noyes, her mother, Ray Baldus Noyes, sister, Nancy Noyes, and son-in-law, William M. Hays, Jr. She is survived by her husband, Fred S. Berry; children, son: John F. Berry and wife, Peggy, of Tyler; daughter, Diane Berry Hays of San Antonio, daughter, Patricia Anne Berry of Dallas; grandchildren, Parker F. Berry and wife Rachael, of Katy, Anne Elizabeth Berry of College Station, and McNeilly Katherine Hays of San Antonio; twin brother, John A. Noyes and wife, Judy of Naples, Florida, and their children and grandchildren, Nancy Noyes, Phillip Noyes and Seth Noyes. The family extends their grateful thanks to the members of the Henry Foster Sunday School Class, the physicians, nurses and staff of the Texas Oncology Center, especially, Dr. Lewis Duncan and Debbie Windsor, the police and fire department personnel and other municipal employees of the City of Longview. Joan was proud to be a citizen of Longview and gave her time and energy to its operation for many years. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Henry Foster Sunday School Class. Memorial donations to Asbury House Child Enrichment Center, First United Methodist Church, or Margaret's House Hospice, P. O. Box 5908, Longview, Texas, 75608. A memorial guestbook may be signed online at www.raderfh.com.

Joan Noyes Berry

October 21, 1932 - February 4, 2008