Marcia Berry died on Thursday, June 22, 2017 at the Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
She had been born as Marcia Jean Lubbers on November 22, 1936 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the daughter of Clarence and Martha Lubbers. Marcia was valedictorian for the class of 1954 at the high school in Plainwell, Michigan. In 1958 she received the Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance and sacred music form Ohio Wesleyan University. In 1960 she received the Master of Religious Education degree from Boston University.
On April 10, 1960, Marcia Lubbers married Keith Berry. They became the parents of Jean, Karen and David. They also hosted two American Field Service exchange students for one year each: Yumi lekura from Japan and Claudia Spagnolo from Argentina. At various times the Berry's lived in Boston, Danvers and Clinton, Massachusetts; Cockermouth, England; and Glasgow, Kansas City, St. Joseph, Marshfield, Chillicothe, Gladstone and Liberty, Missouri.
Marcia's primary role was as mother of her children. However she was also employed as Director of Christian Education at the Maple Street Congregational Church in Danvers (1960-1962), as the program director for four day care centers operated by Inter/Serv in St. Joseph (1974-76), and as a member of the adjunct faculty at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City (1990-92). She gave private lessons in organ and piano, and thoroughly enjoyed accompanying high school students for regional and state music contests.
Marcia Berry became a member of the Centennial United Methodist Church in Kansas City in 1995. She was president of the Kansas City North District United Methodist Women (1998-99), was a member of the Spofford Board in Kansas City (1995-2005), and was a member of the World Methodist Council (1996-2006). She was a member of Chapter DB of the PEO sisterhood.
Marcia was a woman of faith. Her motto was "Lived with Christ; Died with Christ; Raised with Christ!"
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Glen Anthony Lubbers; her son-in-law John Beach; and her brothers-in-law J.D. Williams and Larry Williams. Survivors include husband Keith Berry; children Jean Beach, Karen Berry and David Berry with Melissa; grandsons Ryan Berry, Tyler Berry, Brian Beach, Brett Berry and Drew Berry; step-siblings Carol Williams, Gordon with Eleanor Williams, and David Williams; exchange student "daughters" Yumi with Yasunori Kaneko and Claudia with Juan Kis; many cousins, Kingswood neighbors, Centennial friends and Missouri clergy families.
Funeral services will be held at the Centennial United Methodist Church, 19th and Woodland, on Saturday, July 1, 2017. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. A prelude of guitar and piano music will begin at 10:00 a.m. and a prelude of organ music will begin at 10:30 a.m. The liturgy of Death and Resurrection will begin at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at the Mount Moriah Cemetery, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri.
Memorial checks may be written to the Centennial United Methodist Church. These gifts will be forwarded in Marcia's honor to the Youth Committee of the World Methodist Council.
Arrangements under the direction of Mt Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, MO.