Martha Jean Berry Jennings

Martha Jean Berry Jennings passed away Thursday, August 15, 2013 at Lincoln Community Care Center, Lincoln, Missouri. Mrs. Jennings was born on August 22, 1926 in Sedalia, the oldest daughter of Campbell and Cleo Berry.

On January 27, 1943, she was united in marriage to Walter R. Jennings. After military assignments during WW II, the Jennings settled in Austin, Texas.

In 1959 they returned to Sedalia where Mrs. Jennings worked for Dr. AJ Campbell for many years and then later opened a day care. The people she met and cared for were the highlight of her life.

She is survived by two sons, Berry Jennings and his wife Jennifer of Lee’s Summit, Cam Jennings and his wife Tina of Sedalia; a daughter, Cindy Gunter and her husband Sam of Edwards, MO; a sister, Ruth Ann Cook; a brother-in-law, Ed Cook; a sister-in-law, Donna Berry; seven grandchildren, Christy Scarborough and her husband Randy, Jeff Jennings and his wife Michelle, Zach Gunter and his wife Erin, Laura Harris and her husband Jessee, Natalie Smith and her husband Nick, Micah Carson and her husband Mark, and Cami Jennings; two step-grandchildren, David and Patrick Weber; and twelve great-grandchildren, Jeffery and Meredith Scarborough, Katie, Sam and Will Jennings, Hunter and Gage Harris, Abby and Lila Gunter, Jackson and Grace Smith, and Gunter Carson.

Mrs. Jennings was preceded in death by her husband of fifty years in 1993; a great grandson, Thomas Randall Scarborough in 1999; two brothers, Bill Berry and Jeff Berry; and one sister-in-law, Fern Berry

Mrs. Jennings was a long-time member of the Broadway Presbyterian Church but the last few years she attended the Wesley Methodist Church with her good and faithful friend and neighbor, Martha Ann Bridges. Martha Jennings will be sadly missed for her cheerful smile and friendly manner, and her love of the history of Sedalia and the people who lived there.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, August 19, 2013, at Rea Funeral Chapel, Sedalia, with Pastor Rob Hughes officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Sedalia. The family will receive friends at the funeral chapel one hour prior to service.

Pallbearers will be grandsons.

Honorary bearers will be great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Pettis County Historical Society.