Max Berry

Max DeWayne Berry, 87, passed away on August 6, 2026, at his home in Abilene, Texas.  He was born on May 6, 1939, in Lampasas, TX, to Frank and Julia (Smith) Berry.

Visitation will be held at Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel in Lampasas on Wednesday, August 12, from 6 pm to 8 pm.  Services will be on Thursday, August 13, 4 pm at Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel, with burial to follow at Watson Cemetery.

Max grew up in Lampasas, TX, and was the youngest of seven children.  He greatly enjoyed playing high school football, had many friends, and was elected president of his senior class in 1957.  After graduating high school, he attended Tarleton State College in Stephenville, Texas, where he received a two-year degree before transferring to a full university program to pursue studies in Pharmacology.  He graduated in 1963 from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy and began working for Lampasas Drug in 1963 as a pharmacist, where he worked for 11 years. In 1974, Max and his wife, Wanda, started The Pill Box and ran that business for 20 years.  He was then hired as a Pharmacist/Manager at Walmart Pharmacy in Lampasas in 1994, where he worked until retirement in 2015.

Max married the love of his life, Wanda Davis, on January 27, 1962, in Houston, TX.  They were happily married for 64 years. 

Max and Wanda moved from Houston to Lampasas in 1963 and lived there for 52 years before moving to Sun City, Georgetown, TX, in 2015.  In 2024, Max and Wanda moved to Abilene, TX, to be closer to family.

Max and his family were active members of the Central Christian Church of Lampasas, where he served as a deacon and elder.

Max had many passions that meant the world to him.  These included sharing his love for the outdoors with others, traveling the world, skiing with his family, eating breakfast with his high school buddies, two-stepping with his bride, sailing on cruises, golfing, woodworking, and making memories on Lake LBJ with his loved ones.  In his later years, Max spent much of his time outdoors teaching his grandchildren to fish and hunt.  Many of his days on this earth, you could find him in the woods or on the water.

Max diligently read Scripture and had a passion for sharing God's word with all those who would listen.  Max loved his family fiercely and took pride in how much he loved each of them.  He was loved by everyone who knew him and was widely respected by those who worked for him.  Max's humor could change the mood for the better no matter where or when.  And he was extraordinarily patient and kind when teaching nieces and nephews how to fish, jet ski, water ski, and snow ski.  He enjoyed spending time at the lake with family and friends and looked forward to the annual Berry Cousins Weekend, where he would take family for boat rides on the lake.

In addition, Max and Wanda were blessed to have two exchange students from Spain, Olga and Katya Ximenez de Olaso Serna, live with them while attending Lampasas High School in 1992 and 1996, respectively.  Max loved Olga and Katya like daughters and made many trips to Spain with Wanda to visit them and their children, who have always known him as Papa.

Max was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda Jean Berry; his parents, Frank and Julia Berry; his brothers, Sonny Berry and Alton Berry, sisters, Frankie Zumwalt, Mildred Dodds, Sue Baxter, and Annette Yates.

Max is survived by his daughter, Lesley Berry Wood and her husband Ryan of Abilene, TX; his son, Lance Berry of Lampasas, TX; his grandsons, Hunter Chase Nall and his wife Alex of Abilene, TX, Caden Dewayne Nall of Miami, FL, Gaige Wood and his wife Abi of Hawley, TX, Peyton Wood and his fiance Aly of Dallas, TX; his great-grandsons, Jayse, Stetson, John and Archer; his great-granddaughter, Murphy Faye; and numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives.