Mary Ruth Berry

Mary Ruth Berry, 91, beloved mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend passed on into eternal life on August 2, 2015 at Sunshine Gardens Country Home in Durango, CO. She was born on December 30, 1923 in Denver, CO to Charles E. Drew, Sr. and Gladys Robings Drew. In 1930 her parents and three siblings relocated to Southern CA where they lived in Arcadia, CA and she graduated from Monrovia High School.
In 1942 she married Richard Lee Berry, Sr., and together they raised their three children in Lakewood, CA. She is predeceased by her husband, Richard, Sr.; brother, Charles E. Drew, Jr.; and sister, Elise Green. She is survived by her brother, Walter R. Drew, Sr. (Virginia, deceased, and Gloria) of Long Beach, CA; her sons, Richard Lee Berry, Jr. of Westminster, CA; Christopher S. Berry (Elaine) of Huntington Beach, CA; and her daughter, Deborah E. Hindley (Norton) of Durango, CO. She is also survived by her six grandchildren: Richard Lee Berry, III (Jacki), Kimberly A. Grant (Joe), Gregory S. Berry (Dora), Eric J. Berry (Tiffany), Bradford E. Hindley, and Travis N. Hindley (Breanne); and her four great-grandchildren: Zachary, Dylan, Brooke, and Mila Beth. Also surviving are numerous cousins, nephews, nieces and friends.
Mary Ruth discovered her true passion through many different art mediums; i.e., oil, ink, watercolor, and especially, Chinese Brush. She traveled to the Republic of China by invitation of the Chinese government when they first “opened” to the western world in 1983 -- at age 60! She then made two subsequent visits to study at the Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts in Hangzhou, China. Her painting and travels opened an entirely “new life” to her that enabled her to express the innermost beauty found deep within her.
A family gathering and celebration of Mary’s life will occur in Southern California on Sunday, August 16th. A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Durango on Friday, September 11th at 3:00pm.
If you wish to remember Mary Ruth, you may do so by donating to The Juvenile Diabetes Association of America; First United Methodist Church Durango-Stephens Ministry or Mercy Home Health and Hospice of Durango.