(From Daniel Funeral Home)Cherlyn Barbara Berry, age 81, of Lamar, Missouri, passed away March 29, 2026, at Good Shepherd Community Care in Lockwood, Missouri.
Cherlyn was born June 23, 1944, in Nevada, Missouri, to James Clark McVey and Mae Lovain (Trainor) McVey. She graduated from Wichita North High School in 1962 and later attended Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri. She met the love of her life, William Michael “Mike” Berry, at Pittsburg State University, and on July 25, 1964, they were united in marriage in Kirkwood, Missouri. Together, they built a life centered on love, faith, and family, sharing 55 wonderful years before Mike’s passing in 2020.
Cherlyn had a true gift for teaching and spent her career in the classroom with kindergarten and first-grade students. She had a gentle way about her that made children feel safe, valued, and eager to learn. Many in the community will remember her as their very first teacher—the one who helped them read their first words, write their names, and believe in themselves. To Cherlyn, teaching was never just a job; it was a calling.
Her love for children extended far beyond the classroom and into her home, where she was a devoted mother and proud grandmother. She found great joy in her family and treasured time spent together, especially watching her grandchildren grow.
Cherlyn was a faithful member of Lamar Methodist Church, where her quiet but steadfast faith guided her daily life. She lived with kindness, patience, and compassion, always putting others before herself and offering a steady presence to those around her.
Survivors include her son, Brad Berry and wife Laurie of Little Rock, Arkansas; her daughter, Bethany Meads and husband Brad of Olathe, Kansas; three grandchildren, Mark Meads and fiancée Lauren Dickey, Michael Meads, and Annie Clemons and husband Brenner; her sister-in-law, Lynn Divine and husband Keith; as well as several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Mae McVey; her husband, Mike Berry; and her brother, Gary McVey.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at Lamar Methodist Church, with burial to follow at Lake Cemetery in Lamar, Missouri. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Lamar Animal Shelter or Lamar Methodist Church, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com.
Cherlyn will be remembered for her gentle spirit, her servant’s heart, and the lasting impact she made on generations of children and families. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.






