Bryan Kent Berry – our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather – peacefully passed away at his Carson City home on July 2, 2024, after a lengthy illness. He was 86. Bryan possessed an infectious joy that will be dearly missed.
Bryan was born to Mary Inez Ives and Marion Bryan Berry in a midwife’s home in Long Beach, Calif. on March 22, 1938. As a teenager, he met his future wife, Darlene Waller, on a blind date to a DeMolay Ball; they married in 1959. In 1975, they left southern California and relocated
to Carson City, Nev., where they’ve resided since. They lived in complete devotion to each other for more than 64 years. Bryan always said his greatest joy was spending his life with Darlene.
A graduate of Compton College, Bryan trained as an industrial engineer. In California, he worked for companies such as North American Aviation and ITT Barton. In Nevada, he served as the service and parts manager at Gardner Engineering and later became a plans examiner
for the Nevada State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Bryan made family his top priority. He coached his son Craig’s Little League teams and went to Y-Indian Princess activities with his daughter Kathy. He made it a point to attend events his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren participated in. He worked hard to provide
for his family, saving enough money to buy a trailer along the Colorado River, where they made memories boating on the river and exploring abandoned mining camps.
With a passion for history, Bryan volunteered as a docent and archived artifacts for museums and state parks in Nevada, Oregon and Missouri. He loved sharing his knowledge and meeting visitors from all around the world. The Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City meant a great deal to him. He volunteered there for more than 30 years as a tour guide and was a driver of the McKeen and Edwards rail motor cars. Bryan and Darlene also spent considerable time working at the Berlin Ichthyosaur State Park in Nevada, and the Heceta Head Lighthouse, Fort Stevens and Collier Memorial state parks in Oregon.
Always on the go, Bryan enjoyed boating, golfing, bicycling, fishing and exploring nature. Upon retirement, he and Darlene traveled the country in their RV, researching family history, riding antique trains and visiting historic sites.
Bryan is survived by his wife Darlene; sister Sharron (Berry) Stevens; son Craig Berry and his wife Shannon (Sparks) Berry; daughter Kathleen Berry and her significant other Ken Johns; grandson Joshua Berry; granddaughter Chelsea (Berry) Tucker and husband Lucas Tucker; and great grandchildren Addison Berry, McKenzie Berry and Everette Tucker.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. on Tues., Aug. 27 at the Nevada State Railroad Museum, 2180 S. Carson St. in Carson City, NV. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bryan’s name to the Nevada State Railroad Museum or the Virginia and Truckee Railroad Historical Society, P.O. Box 143, Carson City, NV 89702.