Jerry Gene Berry

Jerry Gene Berry December 26, 1934 – August 25, 2005 Jerry Gene Berry, Temple, Texas, age 70, slipped quietly into Heaven on Thursday evening August 25, 2005 after an extended illness. Jerry served his country in the Vietnam War. He retired from the U.S. Navy as a Chief Petty Officer after 30 years of honorable service. Jerry obtained both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science from Texas State Technical College in Waco, Texas and maintained a life long interest in laser and radar technologies. Other interests included walking (he completed the 1993 Capitol 10K race in Austin, TX) and bible study. Jerry was a member of the Western Hills Church of Christ, Temple, Texas. Jerry was loved by all and known as Laserman by family and friends. Jerry developed lasers for Lawrence Livermore Laboratories in California and loved to demonstrate Laser technology to family and friends. Jerry is survived by two sisters: June Hoke and her husband Fred Hoke, Sr. of Austin, Jane Neece and her husband Art Neece of Edmond, Oklahoma; and three children: Kelly Penrod and her husband Dr. Michael Winters of Houston, Jackson Penrod and his wife Julie Penrod of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Jessie Loya of Houston; and an aunt, Mozelle Tune from Edmonton, Canada. Five grandchildren survive Jerry: Laura and Lindsey Wiginton, Bailey Penrod, Elisabeth Loya, and Samuel Penrod. Many cousins, nieces and nephews also survive Jerry: Fred Hoke Jr., Greg Neece, Brad Neece, Doug Neece and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Bertha Berry of Waco, Texas and his niece, Jill Hoke Bravo of Atlanta, Georgia. Visitation will take place on Sunday, August 28, 2005 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held Monday, August 29th at 10:00 a.m. at Weed-Corley-Fish Chapel. Graveside service will be held Monday, August 29th at 4:00 p.m. at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco, Texas. The family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses and the Marlin nurses of the VA Hospital in Temple for their tender and loving care of Jerry over the past 11 years. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Huntington’s Disease Association of Texas, 2601 Ellise, Austin, TX 78757 or to the Jerry G. Berry Book Award Fund, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, 6100 Main St. MS-61, Houston, TX 77005. Obituary and guestbook available online at wcfish.com