Obituary

Alphus Wiley “A.W.” DeBerry, 85 passed away on Monday, March 22, 2021. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 25, 2021 in Parklawn Memorial Gardens under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Plainview.

A visitation for family and friends will be held 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.

Alphus Wiley DeBerry (we knew him as A.W. and Papa) was born on September 9, 1935. He was the first child born to Alphus Ray and Helen Morton DeBerry. They made their home in the town of Mexia in east Texas. A.W.’s parents worked at the textile mill. They lived in a house near the mill within walking distance of aunts, uncles and cousins. He never forgot his childhood in Mexia. He considered his family and the small town to be a blessing. He spent many hours in the home of his Aunt Bea and Uncle Bud. It was there he learned to hunt and fish-hobbies that would remain with him his entire life. A.W. attended Mexia High School where he played football. He graduated in 1954 and attended Navarro Junior College for two years. During these years he obtained a part-time job working for Harvest Queen and became interested in grain inspection. It was something he did well. In 1967 he had an opportunity to move to Plainview for a position as a grain inspector at Plainview Grain. He took the job and moved his young family to Plainview. He said the first couple of years were difficult as he missed his parents and family, but then he began to build a life here and always considered Plainview his home. He retired from Plainview Grain in 1996. A.W. was sustained through life by his hobbies. Soon after moving to this area he obtained a deer lease near the Colorado City area. For the next 41 years he hunted on several leases in that part of the state. In 2008 he gave it up as it was too hard on him physically. He was still able to fish and kept his fishing lease until the fall of 2015 when he decided it was time to let it go. He loved being able to share his deer steak and catfish with friends and family. Friendships were formed and memories were made around the cleaning table and evening campfire. A.W. liked football-especially the Dallas Cowboys. He seemed to take it personally when the team did not win! In recent years he became a fan of the Texas Rangers. He liked being outside and working in his yard. He took pleasure in mowing the yard and keeping the area nice. He was faithful to water the trees he had planted, hoping that the trees would be here long after he was gone. He loved reading Louis L’Amour and Elmer Kelton. He collected their paperbacks and in recent years re-read all of them. He was a frequent visitor to the library checking for new paperback westerns. A.W. was a quiet man, a private man and did not speak openly of his faith but was faithful to his church and was interested in what was going on at the church. He loved his children and grandchildren. A.W. lived his life fully.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray & Helen DeBerry and a brother-in-law, Ray Stevens.

A.W. is survived by his wife, Barbara Stevens DeBerry of Plainview; two sons, Darron DeBerry & wife Beverly of Plainview and Derrik DeBerry of Palestine; two step daughters, Susan Fisher & husband David of Moberly, MO and Kelly Erwin of Fredericktown, MO; one brother, Doug DeBerry & wife Barbara of Mexia, TX; two brothers-in-law, Ronald Stevens & wife Donna of Fredericktown, MO and Roger Stevens & wife Ruth Ann of Fredericktown, MO; one sister-in-law, Sheila Stevens of Madisonville, LA; seven grandchildren, Austin DeBerry, Bryson DeBerry, Tesla DeBerry, Drew DeBerry, Lainie Erwin & husband Louis, Coleman Erwin and Michael Fisher.

Memorial contributions may be made to: College Heights Baptist Church Building Fund, 802 Quincy Street, Plainview, TX 79072.