In tribute: James Berry: 'Family was always the most important thing'

James Glenn "Bubba" Berry passed away on Oct. 3 at the age of 64, but he will be remembered by many in Clovis.

One of his two sons, J.T. Berry, told The News on Thursday that he can't go anywhere in town and not meet somebody his father knew.

"When we went to Lowes or Walmart, we met someone he knew and we would talk to them for about 10 minutes," J.T. said.

"He was a very social person with people he knew," he said.

During his father's passing, he heard a lot of comments around town, he said. "A lot of people were impacted by him."

"(My father) was always a really helpful guy and if you were part of his circle, he was always there for you," he said. "He was always very family oriented. Family was always the most important thing to him."

"His biggest passion-the job he liked the most-was, he was a carpenter," he said. He worked with his Dad, James Mabry, as a carpenter for about 40 years.

His father had two sons, Tyler Berry and "J.T." Berry, J.T. said. He married Barbara Nuckols, their mother in 1985.

"He taught me everything I know growing up from wood working to working with my hands and I learned a lot of creative things," he said. "I think my creativity came a lot from my Dad and Mom."

J.T. said he teaches middle and high school art and history at Clovis Municipal Schools.

"He, my brother and I were the main focus the rest of his life," he said. "He did everything for us."

He said his Dad was "really, really passionate about baseball and played softball for a number of years. Both my Mom and Dad were coaches when we were in Little League."

"(My Dad) was a very hometown guy and made a lot of connections here in Clovis," he said.

Berry's other son is Tyler Berry.

Tyler wrote the following about his father and sent it in an email to The News: "Dad was the best of us. Dad did exactly what you're supposed to do with your time, have memorable impacts on others and make them feel loved.

"He gave his time and himself to all who needed it even if some didn't deserve it. But he never looked at it that way. He showed us what it means to be selfless. He loved us unconditionally and we knew it because he made it evident every day.

"Dad taught us about life, he taught us to care, he taught us about baseball and the love of the game, he introduced us to Lynyrd Skynyrd, and we roped him into loving Star Wars whether he liked it or not. I believe Dad's happiest moments were when we were happy."