After a life well-lived, both heroic and kind, Berry Thomas Shewmaker passed away on April 26th, 2025, at Howard Memorial Hospital in Nashville, Ark., surrounded by a room full of his family and friends.
Berry was born in Tulsa, Okla., on Oct. 30th, 1941, to Martha and George Shewmaker. Later, the family moved to Cincinnati, Ark., where he graduated from high school. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he served honorably for the next four years. Upon being discharged he returned to Arkansas to attend and graduate from the University of Arkansas with a degree as a business major and a minor in math.
He was then employed at Philips Petroleum, then worked for a time on his family’s farm and finally went to work for Tyson Foods.
In the early 1980’s he moved to Nashville to work at the local facility. He spent the remainder of his career there and retired in 2005.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Julia Diane; two sons: Brian Thomas and his wife Jennie of Nashville, and Corey Dean of Perry, Okla.; three grandchildren; Aaron Shewmaker, Dani Dinger, and Ethan Shemaker; two great-grandchildren: Brennan Shewmaker and Brice Dinger, as well as a host of nieces and nephews.
Berry lived a life full of the things he enjoyed and the people he cared about. He loved the outdoors and went hunting and fishing at every opportunity. And he loved animals. He treated his dogs like they were part of the family, and he treated wild animals with kindness as well. When he was called upon to deal with a snake that was frightening someone, he wouldn’t kill it. Instead, he would capture it and set it free in a safe place.
Berry was a self-professed gear-head. He and Brian lovingly restored a 1974 AMX Javelin to showroom perfection, then took it around to the car show competitions. He thoroughly enjoyed watching car races on television and enjoyed watching mixed martial arts events as well.
He was an accomplished pool player. Every Friday night it was understood that he was going somewhere to shoot pool. He usually came home with more money than he left with.
In short, he was a man’s man. He will be sorely missed in the days ahead by everyone who had the privilege to know him.
Graveside services will be held Tuesday, April 29 at 2:00 p.m. at Restland Memorial Cemetery in Nashville.
His brother-in-law, Jim Lane of Conway, Ark., will officiate.
