Jean Berry

Evelyn “Jean” Berry, 9 3 , of Topeka passed away on Sunday, January 22, 2023 at her home .   She was born on November 19, 1929 in Auburn, Kansas the daughter of Marshall and Bertha Bayless Redmond.   She was raised in Carbondale on the family farm . Jean was married to Mike H. Berry on May 25, 1951.  Mike served in the Army and he and Jean along with their children lived and traveled the World.  Jean and Mike divorced and she returned to Topeka .  Over the past forty years she has had a partner in life, William “ Bill ” Braun. She and Bill enjoyed being grandparents, took cross country motorcycle trips, walked daily , fished, danced, and played pitch every Friday night.  Jean loved caring for Bill until his passing in 2019 from Alzheimer’s.

Jean enjoyed mo w ing the yard, sports , baking cakes for all occasions for family and friends. She enjoyed caring for her g rand children and great grand children . Her favorite holiday was the Fourth of July where she would gather her large family and make sure all were well fed. It was important to Jean to have all her family together when schedules would allow.  Jean was everyone’s mom and grandma.

She worked at Commerce Bank and Trust for many years before retiring in 1995.   She and Bill also owned and operated storage units.

Jean is survived by her children, Mike P. Berry Sr. and his wife Debra of Lillian, Texas, Mika J. Killion and her husband Mike of Houstonia, Missouri, Bart H. Berry and Barbara of Topeka and Charlene A. Gibbens of Lenexa, Kansas; ten grandchildren , sixteen great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She is proceeded in death by her parents and four siblings.

A memorial service for Jean will be held later.  As Jean has donated her body to KU Medical Center to help further the education of science, any m emorial contributions may be made to Elara Hospice or to the Alzheimer’s Association.