James Lawrence McKinnon Berry
1917-2012




James Lawrence McKinnon Berry was born April 14, 1917 at Magazine, Logan Co., Arkansas to Eston Green & Louanna Angeline "Anna" Poff Berry. April 8, 1939 he married Marie Elizabeth Ellis in Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Ar. Both were residents of Fort Smith but the marriage was in Logan Co., Ar.

Lawrence registered for the military draft at the Junior High School in Fort Smith, Sebastian Co. Ar. on October 16, 1940. His final rank in the air guad was Maj. No more information has been found. More of his military service is mentioned below in his Obituary.

James Lawrence McKinnon Berry passed away March 9, 2012 at Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Ar. His burial was in the Fort Smith National Cemetery.

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Lawrence M. Berry, 94, of Fort Smith, died March 9, 2012 in Fort Smith. He was born April 14, 1917 in Magazine, AR.

He was retired from 188th Fighter Wing as Operations Officer, Fort Smith Regional Airport as Manager, and Arkansas Best Freight as Vice President of National Sales. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, past President of Hardscrabble Country Club, and a 32 Degree Mason.

He is survived by his wife, Jimmie Berry of the home; one daughter, Beverly & husband Jack Carter of Ocean Springs, MS; two sons, Jack and wife Marilea Berry of Sallisaw, OK., and Tom Berry of Lake St. Louis, MO; one step son, Jim Tidwell; grandchildren, Teresa Jones, Liz Armstrong, Shari Black, Sarah Easley, Jacquelene Barbour, Jack Wayne Berry, Brent Berry, Josh Berry, Tommilyn Porter, Amy Broemmer, and Craig Berry; eighteen great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren and two step grandchildren, Justin and Matthew Tidwell.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Marie Elizabeth Berry and one son, Jim Berry.

Funeral service will be Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 10:00 AM in the First Baptist Church of Fort Smith with burial to follow in the U.S. National Cemetery all under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Jack Wayne Berry, Josh Berry, Jacob Berry, Craig Berry, Weston Jones, and Jim Tidwell.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Nathan Easley, Brett Easley, Patrick Barbour, Seth Barbour, Colin Barbour, Justin Tidwell, and Matthew Tidwell.