Kermit Wayne (Mike) DeBerry, 86, died at home on July 16 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Mike was born in Henderson, Tennessee on November 11, 1927, the son of the late Gladys Ruth and Clinton Rudolph DeBerry.
In 1946, Mike entered the U.S. Army, and upon completion of his service in 1947, he entered West Tennessee Business College. In 1949 he was offered a position at the Gulf, Mobile, and Ohio Railroad, and that was the beginning of a 39-year career with GM&O, Illinois Central, and Gulf Mississippi railroads.
In 1950, he married Bettye Ann Kitchens. They would go on to have three children: Michael, William (Billy), and Eva (Katy). Mike was an active member of St. Mark’s Methodist Church in Tupelo, MS where he served as Choir Director for over 30 years.
Mike will be remembered for his gentle spirit and great sense of humor. He had a love of music, baseball, old Western movies, and spending time outdoors.
Mike is survived by his wife of 64 years, Bettye, and children, Michael DeBerry, his wife Linda, Bill DeBerry, his wife Barbara, and Katy Kane, her husband General Robert Kane, and grandchildren Rob, Mike, Heather, Sarah, Matthew, and Katelyn plus his brother James R. (Jim) DeBerry (Elynor) and sister-in-law Frances Pearson.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00pm on Saturday July 19 at the Shackelford Funeral Directors Johnson Chapel at 619 East Main Street, Henderson, TN with a burial service to follow at the Montezuma Methodist Church.
Memorial contributions may be made in care of the Cemetery Memorial Fund at the Montezuma Methodist Church, 65 Skinner Lane, Henderson, TN 38340.
