LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

State's Transportation Plan Gets Federal OK
28 Mar 2024 15:06

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    Federal officials on Wednesday approved most of Alaska’s four-y [ ... ]

New Funding Plan Ahead for Visit Sitka?
28 Mar 2024 15:02

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    At an hour-long work session with the Assembly Tuesda [ ... ]

Sitka 'Frankenstein' Puts Classic Tale in New Ligh...
28 Mar 2024 15:01

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    The story behind a classic, though often misunderstoo [ ... ]

State May Los Millions Over Ed Dept. Missteps
28 Mar 2024 14:59

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    The state government risks losing millions of dollars in feder [ ... ]

Gov Signs Bill On Internet In State Schools
28 Mar 2024 14:57

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday signed a bill that promise [ ... ]

Capitol Christmas Tree to Come from Tongass
28 Mar 2024 14:56

By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, known for its steep mountains [ ... ]

City League Games Thursday
28 Mar 2024 14:52

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing Wednesday in competitive division City League volleyball matches, Ca [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Police Blotter
28 Mar 2024 14:50

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 27
At 2:36 p.m. a dead  [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Community Happenings
28 Mar 2024 14:48

This Week in Girls on the Run By Sitkans Against Family Violence
and The Pathways Coalition
During th [ ... ]

New RFP Sought For Managing PAC
27 Mar 2024 14:48

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]

Seiners Get Second Day with 2 Areas to Fish
27 Mar 2024 14:46

By Sentinel Staff
    The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]

Braves Take Second in Last Minute Upset
27 Mar 2024 12:41

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]

Tuesday City League Volleyball
27 Mar 2024 12:39

By Sentinel Staff
    The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]

Kodiak Alutiiq Museum Getting New Attention
27 Mar 2024 12:37

By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
    A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]

House Hearing on Inmate Deaths Halted
27 Mar 2024 12:35

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in  [ ... ]

Nominee to Bering Sea Council: Not a Trawler
27 Mar 2024 12:34

By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
    Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Police Blotter
27 Mar 2024 12:26

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Community Happenings
27 Mar 2024 12:25

Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]

Reassessments Raise Tax Bills for Sitkans
26 Mar 2024 15:22

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]

Two Areas Opened in Herring Fishery Today
26 Mar 2024 15:21

By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]

Lady Wolves Rally to Take Fourth at State
26 Mar 2024 15:16

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]

Edgecumbe Girls Close Out Season Up North
26 Mar 2024 14:58

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
    Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]

City League Monday
26 Mar 2024 14:55

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]

House Votes to Broaden Rules For Review Panel Memb...
26 Mar 2024 14:52

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday  [ ... ]

Other Articles

Daily Sitka Sentinel

Gary Berry

Gary Berry

After a short illness, Gary A. Berry of Seattle, a former Sitka resident, departed this life very peacefully on Sept. 20, surrounded by his family. He was five days from his 77th birthday.

He was born in Cripple Creek, Colo., on Sept. 25, 1939, to Elmer and Katherine Berry. He grew up in Colorado and graduated from Woodland Park High School.

He joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1958 and received his basic training in Groton, Conn. He was stationed in Sitka, where he met the love of his life, Marion Williams.

After serving four years, he was honorably discharged from the Coast Guard in Alameda, Calif.

Marion and Gary were married Feb.  17, 1962, and were blessed with two wonderful sons Todd and Ron Berry.

Gary was very active with his boys in Boy Scouts, including serving as their troop leader. Because of his perseverance and his belief you can do anything you want, he became a firefighter for the Mt. View Fire Department with the help of his dear friend Jeff Hunter. Later, he decided he wanted to work with his brother Michael, so he went to Santa Clara County Fire Department, retiring in 1990 after 25 years of service.

Throughout his life he truly enjoyed helping and assisting people. With his brother, he owned and operated a catering/barbecue business Fire Fighters Barbecues, where numerous nieces and nephews, friends and family members worked. In 1993, after 10 successful years with the barbecue business, he sold his part, moved to Juneau and purchased his boat “Andyman,” named after a grandson. When people asked him what he did, he was quick to answer with a big smile, “Hunting and fishing, and I do my job well!”

With encouragement from Uncle Pat Moy, he joined the American Legion Sitka Post 13 and held the highest office as Department Commander for the State of Alaska.

Every year he participated in his true passion, working with high school boys at Boys State. Summers were spent fishing with his family and friends, especially his grandchildren.

After living in Alaska, Gary and Marion moved to Seattle to be near their sons and grandchildren. Gary cherished all the time he spent with his family, extended family, friends and his closest companion, Duke, who sat with him faithfully every day.

His parents, Elmer and Katherine Berry, preceded Gary in death.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Marion Berry; sons Todd (Kirsten) Berry, Ron (Mi) Berry; and brother Michael (Liz) Berry.

Grandchildren Erin Berry, Alex Berry, Collin Berry, Andrew (Tracey) Berry, Katherine (her mother Julie) Hughes, Kaitlynn (Chase) Armfield, Rachael Nelson, Chelsea Eason, and Blake Eason; sisters-in-law Walleen Williams and Esther Liberty; and brothers-in-law Harvey (Kathi) Williams Jr. and Bill Trivett also survive.

His nieces and nephews are Steven (Claudia) Berry, Kristean (Mathias) Björkman, Michelle Liberty, Virgil (Bel) Liberty, Carl Liberty Sr., Sheryl DesBiens, Glenda (Tim) Drevas, Tara (Dale) Hume, YeilYadi Olson, Marsha (Allen) Heilbrun, Nicole (Kevin) Fischbeck, Kimberly (Ty) Brill, Jamie Trivett, Michael (Jennifer) Williams, Harvey (Shana) Williams III, Kevin (Jessica) Williams, Sean (Shi Fen) McRee, Daniel (Kim) Whitson and Daneen Whitson.

More than 49 great-nieces, great-nephews, numerous cousins and his adopted grandchildren also survive.

Gary’s service was held Saturday, Sept. 24, at Evergreen Washelli Chapel and Inurnment at Evergreen Memorial Park, in Seattle, with military honors by the United States Coast Guard.

Pallbearers were Todd Berry, Ron Berry, Steven Berry, Collin Berry, Andrew Berry, Alex Berry, Virgil Liberty Jr., Michael Williams, Yeil Yadi Olson, Harvey Williams III, Kevin Williams, Sean McRee and Devin Hume.

Honorary pallbearers were Mike Berry, Harvey Williams Jr., Gary Olson, Bill Trivett, Jeffrey Hunter, Laird Jones and Dale Hume. 

 

 

Login Form

 

20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

Calendar

Local Events

Instagram

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Instagram!

Facebook

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Facebook!