Zelma Lee (Short) Berry
Zelma Lee (Short) Berry was born Feb. 28, 1941, at Texanna. She passed away Jan. 7, 2019, at her home in Porum.
She was raised at Texanna until the family moved to Possum Holler. After several years, they moved back to Gap Prairie. Zelma attended school at Lindsey Chapel, Gap Prairie School and Texanna School, where she finished her education.
Zelma always worked hard. She first began working at Stark’s Brothers Nursery with her brothers Kelly, John and Hobo. She then went on to be a home health care provider for several families in Porum and later, she was a waitress at Hilltop. Zelma retired from Coburn Optical, where she worked with her brother Kelly Short and her sister Louise Buckmaster.
She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1993 and she battled the disease for more than 25 years.
Zelma had a colorful sense of humor and an immense love for her family and chocolate. She will be remembered by her family as strong, loving, stubborn and ornery.
Zelma was cared for by many nurses and aides throughout her illness, but nobody cared for her more than her daughter, Deborah Berry.
Zelma is survived by her sister, Louise Buckmaster of Muskogee; sons, Mitchell Girty of Porum and Bobby Landon Berry, Jr. and wife, Twila, of Haskell; daughters, Deborah Berry of Porum and Julia Jones and husband, Steve, of Porum; grandchildren, Micheal Wiggins, Mandy Gutierrez, Brandi Blackwood, Misty Girty, JR Girty, Todd Lake, Nolan Lake, Bridgett Lozier, Melissa Wiggins, Dawn Boston, Cody Pongerayter, Harley Girty, Autumn Lawless, Bradon Berry, Lucas Lawless and Briley Berry; 23 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Zelma was preceded in death by her parents, Jess and Marie (French) Short; brothers, Kelly Short, Will Short, John Short and Calvin Hobo Short; daughter, Tammy Girty Smith; daughter-in-law, Brenda Girty; husbands, George Girty and Bobby Landon Berry, Sr.; great-granddaughter, Camryn Lozier and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services are being conducted by Lescher Millsap Funeral Home. Viewing will be at the Mallory-Martin Porum Chapel in Porum on Wednesday, Jan. 9 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Family viewing will also be Wednesday, Jan. 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. The funeral service will be on Thursday, Jan. 10, at 1 p.m. at the Porum Assembly of God Church.
Interment will be at Cramp Cemetery following the funeral service.
Pallbearers are Micheal Wiggins, JR Girty, Cody Pongerayter, Harley Girty, Bradon Berry, Aidan Armstrong, Lucas Lawless and Briley Berry.
Honorary pallbearers include Greg Smith, Maverick Padgett, Stephen Padgett, Anthony Padgett, Ethan Girty, Gianna Armstrong, Taryn Armstrong, Savannah Wiggins, Sierra Wiggins and Ben Gutierrez.