Updated: 07 Apr 2013

Daily Oklahoman, The 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 
January 11, 2009

Nancy Michaels Berry passed away peacefully on January 8, 2009. She was 80 years old. Nancy was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on September 3, 1928 to William and Allene Michaels, but grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She graduated from Holland Hall School with highest honors. She was the valedictorian of her class each year of her attendance and graduated when she was 15 years old. She received a scholarship to Wellesley College.

In her junior year, she met and married Charles N. Berry Jr., a fellow Oklahoman who was a student at Harvard Law School. Nancy and Charlie moved back to Oklahoma City and raised four sons. Nancy went on to obtain her Bachelor's Degree in History, and a Master's Degree in International Relations from the University of Oklahoma. Through her work with the Junior League, she became passionately involved in numerous philanthropic causes. She worked for World Neighbors before becoming the Executive Director of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. Nancy moved to New York City in 1980 where she worked for Project Orbis, which educated doctors around the world in advanced eye surgery techniques. She then went to work for the National Executive Service Corps, which provides management expertise to non-profits throughout the United States, as their only paid executive. After retiring, she traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States, making life-long friends wherever she went. Nancy always believed in living life to the fullest. She lived by the maxim, "Carpe Diem".

Nancy is survived by countless friends, and her two sons, Charles Nelson Berry III of Seattle, Washington and Michaels Crittenden Berry of Bainbridge Island, Washington. Her youngest two sons, David Shelby Berry and Christopher Norris Berry, predeceased her. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Paula Grant Berry of Brooklyn, New York. She is also survived by her brother, Bill Michaels, and his wife, Kim, of Basking Ridge, New Jersey. She is also survived by seven grandchildren. There will be a Memorial Service on Wednesday, January 14, 2009, at the Church of the Heavenly Rest, located at Fifth Avenue and E. 90th in New York City.

A Memorial Service will also be held Saturday, January 17, 2009 at the St. Edwards Chapel at Casady School in Oklahoma City at 11:00 A.M. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer a donation be made in her name to the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
 

Sources:  good faith fair use of sources stated above

Compiled, transcribed and submitted by Marti Graham, Oklahoma County, OKGenWeb Coordinator, January 2009. Information posted for educational purposes for viewers and researchers. The contributor is not related to nor researching any of the above.

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