Joyce Lorraine Berry, 86

May 22, 1930 — June 16, 2016

Born Joyce Lorraine Nilsby on May 22, 1930, in Seattle, Wash., she was preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Ruth Nilsby; her brother, Vernon Nilsby; her two sisters, Rose Croffut and Lillian Croffut; and daughter-in-law, Kathy Anderson Berry.

Among her many childhood activities, she mostly enjoyed dance, school plays, baby-sitting, her little dogs and roller skating. In 1941, she moved with her family to Sandpoint, Idaho, where she attended both junior high and senior high school. During her teen years, she was a hostess/usher at both the Lake Theater and the Panida Theater. She was an avid roller skater at the Sandpoint Roller Rink.

After her marriage to James W. Berry in 1947, they resided in Hanford, Wash., for a short time, before making Sandpoint their home, with their four children. As a volunteer for the Lions Club, she was active in the landscape planning of the original City Beach, and helped with many of their other programs.

During the ’60s, she worked alongside her husband for Emerald Maintenance, where she was responsible for helping to manage military housing government contracts. In 1966, she moved with her family to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She was a volunteer for the Kootenai Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. In 1973, she and her family returned to retire in Sandpoint. She was a Charter Member of Faith Evangelical Free Church of Sandpoint, where she served as head Deaconess, Church Organist and Awana Cubbies Leader. As a Billy Graham volunteer, she worked to bring the first Crusade to Spokane, Wash. She served as a counselor and she also sang in the choir. Later, she became a member of the First Baptist Church in Sandpoint.

Her family, whom she loved and cared for deeply, include her husband, James W. Berry, Sandpoint; her two sons, William A. Berry (wife Jan) of Naples and James R. Berry of Sandpoint; and two daughters, Debra Vaughan (husband Ron) of Sandpoint and Sandra Ebbett (husband Dave) of Coeur d’Alene. Grandchildren include: Mark Ebbett, Sarah Glahe (husband Tyson), Zach Vaughan, Rachel Buckmaster (husband David) and James J. Berry. Her great-grandchildren include: Logan Ebbett, Madison Ebbett Truxton Glahe, Ava Glahe, Kayla Miller and Eyan Miller.

A memorial service is 2 p.m. Thursday, June 30, 2016, at First Baptist Church in Sandpoint, with Pastor Ken Smith officiating.

Contributions may be made to “Samaritan’s Purse,” for their Operation Christmas Child program, in care of First Baptist Church, 1230 Michigan St., Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Family and friends are invited to sign Joyce’s online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Coffelt Funeral Service.