Ellen Ann “Patsy” Berry

On April 28, 2021, Ellen Ann “Patsy” Berry was set free from this earthly realm at the age of 93. Born “baby girl” Cavenar on January 20, 1928, in her grandmother’s Altus, Oklahoma home. Patsy was the only child of Neva Romaine Scott Cavenar and Daniel Bryan “Pat” Cavenar.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00pm, Saturday, June 26, 2021 at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church.

The name Patsy from her father, at age six, Patsy chose “Ellen Ann” as her legal name, a combination of her two grandmothers’ name. Although she was born in Oklahoma, Patsy was raised and grew up in Amarillo, Texas, graduating from Amarillo High School in 1945 a year ahead of schedule. She attended Amarillo Jr. College before transferring to Texas Women’s University (at that time Texas State College for Women). There she was a member of the OT Club; the Panhandle Club; and the Aquatics Club. In 1950, Patsy graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy. After finishing her degree she worked in OT Dept at Parkland Hospital in Dallas Texas

It was while she was finishing her degree in Denton that she met a handsome young Business major attending North Texas State on a blind double date. William T. “Bill” Berry was fresh out of the Marines and getting an accounting degree on the GI Bill. They married in 1951, and moved to Midland, a bustling oil boomtown, to settle and start their family.

Patsy and Bill raised two children Melissa Ann and Richard Bryan “Buster” in Midland, where Patsy also took an active role in the community for over 62 years. She was one of the founding organizers of Casa de Amigos(1964), founder of Midland Family Planning (1965), later Planned Parenthood of West Texas, where she served as Board President from 1968 through 1975, She also service on the Board of the Greater Houston Planned Parenthood when she and Bill lived in Houston for several years. Additionally she was an active member of the Midland Council of Churches. In addition to her civic interests, Patsy was a member of the Midland Women’s Tennis League, the West Texas Jazz Society; the Midland Community Theater, and the Museum of the Southwest and Midland College’s “College Classics.” In addition to her civic involvement, Patsy also held a position for four years (1969 – 1972) as a specialist with Texas Health and Human Services. And, after returning from Houston in 1976 she started a successful career in Midland Residential Real-Estate.  Following the death of her husband, she found a home and larger family at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church where she was a representative to the Northwest Texas Episcopal Diocese and enjoyed cooking parish dinners with her good friend Harris Kerr on Wednesday nights.

Her mother and father, her beloved husband William T. Berry, and her son, Richard Bryan Berry, preceded Patsy in death. Her daughter, Melissa Berry of Austin, survives her.

In her final years, Patsy moved to Austin to live with her daughter and was lovingly cared for by her good friend Emily Haire. Special thanks to Emily for the love, happiness and quality of life she brought to Patsy’s final years.

Patsy loved travel, gardening, music, to dance, and a good margarita with P.A.T.R.O.N. Known for her warm laugh, infectious smile, a caring spirit, as well as direct and unfiltered opinions, she will be missed by those who knew and loved her, but they know she is dancing in heaven.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.