Highland Cemetery

urant, Bryan County, Oklahoma

© Cunningham Funeral Homes Oklahoma
Submitted by: Terry Dudley

Joanne Helen Bruce Berry

January 6, 1955 ~ January 30, 2025

Joanne Helen Berry, 70, of Durant, Oklahoma passed from this life on January 30, 2025. Joanne was born in Joliet, Illinois on January 6, 1955, and resided in Mokena, Illinois until moving to Antlers, Oklahoma her freshman year of high school. She attended Mokena school and then graduated from Antlers high school. Upon graduation, she attended college at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Joanne married Billy Bob Berry, her high school sweetheart, on June 16th, 1973, in Hugo, Oklahoma. They were married 46 years to the day and were blessed with a loving, happy, laughter-filled marriage. Joanne deeply loved her family, and her four children certainly kept her busy, she was the CEO of the Berry Circus, Inc. but also managed a chain of convenience stores in her spare time throughout Oklahoma and Texas.

Joanne had many loves and hobbies. She was an avid reader in her spare time, sometimes locking herself in the bathroom for hours just to gain some peace and quiet from her very loud children and all their friends. She loved watching football, particularly the Oklahoma Sooners. She was passionate about all her grandchildren's plays, speeches, and shows and her grandsons' football games and enjoyed attending whatever activity they were participating in. Joanne also loved to shop, trying on anything and everything, the more outlandish the better, sometimes just to gain a laugh. To that end, one of Joanne's favorite things was laughter, she loved humor and often couldn't get through as a good story without giggling out her sentences. She also couldn't keep a secret amongst her children, especially if it was a funny one. She was known for her sarcastic, quick wit. Spring was her favorite season because of how much she loved tulips. Joanne also enjoyed watching period pieces such as Bridgerton. Joanne enjoyed eating out and her favorite restaurant was Dining Around. She often liked to order dessert first and all of her children and grandchildren can attest to her love of sweets. She enjoyed giving her children and grandchildren back scratches, starting a long tradition of oller-mollers. Lastly, the most wonderful and important thing her family wants everyone to know is that Joanne Helen Berry truly loved the Lord. Joanne and Billy Bob were active members of Abundant Life Texoma for many years but also enjoyed attending Victory Life church, especially during their summer jubilee. Joanne was a fanatic when it came to worship music and was in her element when she was praising and worshipping God.

She is proceeded in death by her husband, Billy Bob Berry, granddaughter Rowan Berry, nephew Bruce Charvat, sister Donna Sevall, sister Barbara Collins and her husband Rick, stepsister Janet Warren, stepbrother John Casey Campbell, niece Jody Clifton, nephew Bobbie Joe Childers, father Gordon Bruce, mother Charlotte and stepfather Jack Campbell.

She is survived by daughter Jennifer Nelson and granddaughters Darian and Dylan Nelson of Durant, Daughter and son-in-law Emily and Evan Ault, of Caddo, granddaughter, Charlotte and husband Nate Hodson, of Tulsa, and grandsons Elam and Abiel Brantley, also of Caddo, Daughter and son-in-law Kimberly and Todd McCarty, of Durant, granddaughters Joanna, Rylan, Mylee and Myra Lain and Josslynn McCarty, of Durant, Son and daughter-in-law Caleb and Nikki Berry, of Durant. Grandson Jonas Swopes-Berry, of Stillwater, and granddaughter Lilah Berry, of Durant.

Joanne is also survived by sister and brother-in-law Bonnie and John Charvat, of Sevierville Tennessee, brother and sister-in-law Gordon and Linda Bruce, of Durant, brother and sister-in-law Robert and Teresa Bruce, of Antlers, stepsister and husband Anita and Bob Clifton, of Antlers, stepsister Debra Campbell, of Shawnee, stepsister and husband Callie and Joe Childers, of Antlers, brother-in-law and wife Mike and Kellis Berry, of Antlers, sister in law and husband, Wynonna and Bill Winn, of Claremore, and many nieces and nephews that she dearly loved and their children.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday February 8, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Abundant Life Texoma Church in Durant. Interment will follow in Highland Cemetery with John Charvat, Dan Collins, Scott Sevall, Andrew Collins, Andrew Collins Jr, and Adam Collins serving as pallbearers. The family will receive friends and family on Friday evening from 6-8 PM. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.brownsfuneralservice.com

Arrangements are under the direction of Brown's Durant Funeral and Cremation Service.