Charles Chapman Berry
Born August 23, 1929 in Ohio, passed on Monday March 16, 2015 in St. Louis, MO.
He was raised and continued to live in St. Louis, Missouri. Graduated from Washington University School of Business. Served in the Korean War, playing the trombone in Dachu, Germany. After the war, he helped his father, Ira E. Berry build a successful brokerage firm, Ira E Berry Real Estate. With Anita Berry and his passion for Jazz music, an original American art form; both Anita and our dad helped invest in the first privately chartered jazz theme cruise business.
Charles also had a love for literature, cinema and was very fond of the theater. Earlier in his life he was an actor in Germany during the Korean War and within a local theatre guild in Webster Groves, MO. Our father loved to travel, he loved Europe, especially Marbella, Spain. He was generous to a fault.
Many who knew him were given second chances just knowing him. His passion for the creative spirit with all it’s spontaneity, improvisation and zeal to inspire the heart, was a catalyst for becoming a patron of support for Jazz musicians. Charles always had a soft heart for the musical artist and the businesses that showcased them well! For a short while he invested in his own jazz club called Penguins in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Dad loved sports and the statistics that went with it. He was a loyal Mizzou football and basketball fan. Of course, the St. Louis Cardinals were always worthy of his hometown loyalty!
He is survived by Anita Berry and a close friend, Barb Harden, two sons, Kevin and Todd, and daughter Gail, and grandchildren Phillip, Chad, Julia, Mary and Parker.
Charles was loved and his presence was fun an inspiring!
I will always love you
The pressure is off
I am coming home
No one knows us better than you
Jesus
We can find our rest in you
You have been a father
for a longtime
No one is a better friend
Now I have to let go
Falling back into Jesus
His perfect love
Back to the beginning
Not always getting what we wanted
That entitlement always must be
Kept at bay
But I promise
I will always love you dad
Before we burn down our bridges that
represent how we have got here thus far
Jesus chose us
And I promise I will always love you
Not knowing what’s ahead
I will trust you Jesus
Bless Barb for her open heart
Enlarge my tent pegs
Give me a steady heart
And lead me on
A steady heart
Lead me on
A steady faith, grace, mercy, love
Lead me on !
Help us open up
And let the light in
The promise beneath your feet
There is a reason for the journey
There is purpose for the learning
It’s nots easy
We taste your goodness
Heaven cheers us on
With confidence we run
We are getting there
Your promise is
You, Dear Jesus
Are always with us !
Your presence is the promise
Were getting there
You have my back
Well now what ?
How do you deal with the sadness, the pain
Of no longer having a Dad that inspired
No longer available
Even when that was a challenge when he was alive
Yet an eccentric , bigger than life, father
Is not within reach of any note I hear on this earth
Yet I do hope , that every prayer that was spoken or silently thought
Brought him closer to you Jesus
And maybe I will see him again
Both of us together with our Heavenly Father
Who as my pastor said
No matter how high the waves
No matter how hard we try to navigate through them
Our Lord Jesus knows each step, each thought, each tear
In our boats of life
Yearning that we rest too
Thank you
Amen
Dads life ended with Autumn in New York
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Proceeded with
Frank Rosolino and Carl Fontanna
Trombone Heaven
Eddie Higgins was the hit,
As I serenaded Dad each day with Eddies peaceful and elegant piano
Everyone involved with room 5 enjoyed listening and was curious to know who’s playing
I told them a very close friend for many years
Diana Krall had a few notes of her own to offer
Through it all
Anita was the love canary
The one who could really read his eyes
And in Gods perfect timing called just before Dad passed away
My Father was rarely transparent or let the vulnerable, compassionate side of him show.
But you still always hoped you could captivate his attention one way or another.
His Jazz for life will be missed
Charles Chapman Berry
Born Aug 23, 1929, in Ohio
Died: Monday March 16, 2015 in St Louis, Mo.
He was raised, and continued to live in St Louis, Mo.
Graduated from Washington University School of Business.
Served in the Korean War Playing the trombone in Dachu, Germany.
After the war
he helped his father Ira E Berry
build a successful Real-Estate Brokerage firm, Ira E Berry
With Anita Berry and his passion for Jazz music, an original American art form;
both Anita and our Dad helped create the first privately chartered jazz themed cruise business
Charles also had a love for literature, cinema, and was very fond of the theatre.
Earlier in his life he was an actor in Germany during the Korean war
and within a local theatre guild in Webster Groves, Mo.
Our father loved to travel, he loved Europe , especially Marbella, Spain
He was generous to a fault.
Many who knew him were given second chances knowing him.
His passion for the creative spirit with all its spontaneity, improvisation,
and zeal to inspire the heart. Charles
was a catalyst for the admiration of Jazz music and the musicians who played the standards and the American songbook well !
Charles always had a soft heart for
the businesses that showcased them well !
For a short while he invested in his own jazz club called Penguins in Ft Lauderdale, FL.
Dad loved Sports and the statistics that went with it.
He was a loyal Mizzou football and basketball fan !
Of course the St. Louis Cardinals were always worthy of his hometown loyalty !
He is survived by Anita Berry and a close friend Barb Harden
His surviving children are two sons and one daughter:
Kevin
Todd
and Gail
His grandchildren thus far are;
Phillip
Chad
Julia
Mary
and
Parker
Charles Chapman Berry was loved, and his presence was fun and inspiring !