Harold Loyed "Hal" Berry, Paul Lynde's secretary & "assistant", 71
deb...@comcast.net
Odessa, Texas
December 16, 1933 - October 31, 2005
Harold was born to Georgia and Oscar Berry in Ardmore Oklahoma, where
he lived and attended school. He went on to attend Commercial College
in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma in Norman.
Harold worked in live and movie theater management in Salinas and San
Jose, California from the early 1950s until 1972, when he moved to
Odessa, Texas to work in the floral design business with his sister
until 1974. While working in California, Harold befriended many people
in the acting profession and has remained close to them via phone
calls, visits and letters until his death. For a time, Harold worked as
the secretary and travel assistant to the late actor/comedian, Paul
Lynde. He then worked for the Hodge and Collins families at the
Grandview Cinema, in Odessa, Texas for the next 20 years. The past 6
years, Harold spent with National Travel in Odessa, Texas. And the last
2 months of his life were spent working, again in floral design, for
Mark Knox in Odessa, Texas.
Harold was well known in West Texas for his many philanthropic
endeavors for civic organizations, music and dance performances, and
for his talents as a judge for various pageants; including Miss West
Texas, The Permian Basin Fair, the Fort Stockton Water Carnival and the
Golden Girl pageant in Pecos, Texas.
Harold is preceded in death by his parents and stepfather, J.C. Hawkins
of Odessa, Texas, 2 half-brothers, Edgar and Andrew Berry, and a
half-sister, Nettie Mann, all of Ardmore, Oklahoma and a sister, Eula
Mae Finley of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Harold is survived by his sister, Anita Berry Cole of Midland, Texas, 4
nieces, Leslie Cole Ligon of Midland, Texas, Janet Cole Bachmann of
Montpelier, Virginia, Donna Finley Robertson of Plano, Texas and Qali
Ann Finley Laschober of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; 5 nephews, Jeff and
Steve Cole of Midland, Texas, Mark Finley of Crete, Illinois, and Mike
and Jerry Finley of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and many great-nieces and
great-nephews.
Harold was a loving brother, uncle, and friend. He touched many lives
with his love, caring and attention and will be missed by all who knew
him.
A memorial service, celebrating his life, will be held at 2:00 p.m.,
Saturday, November 5th, 2005 at Sunset Memorial Gardens and Funeral
Home, with Revered Marcella Bassett officiating.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to St. Jude's Children's
Research Hospital or the American Diabetes Association.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Sunset Memorial Gardens and Funeral
Home.
"When I stand before God, at the end of my life, I would hope that I
would not have a single bit of talent left and could say: 'I used
everything You gave me!'" Love, Laughter and Happiness. Hal
Published in the Midland Reporter-Telegram on 11/5/2005.
islandersa
deb...@comcast.net
On Monday, January 11, 1982, Paul Lynde was found dead in his West
Hollywood home, in bed with a bottle of "Poppers" (Amyl Nitrate, an
inhalant used to enhance sex) nearby.
Lynde likely had a heart attack on Saturday night while having sex with
someone who just walked out of the Beverly Hills home when the seizure
happened, without even bothering to call for help.
islandersa
heard if he had it or not
Mary L. Wallace
Florenski and Steve Wilson, the authors of Center Square: The Paul Lynde
Story, investigators said there was no indication that Lynde had
recently engaged in any sexual activity at the time of his death and
medical tests backed that up. It is true that there was a bottle of
butyl nitrate found on his nightstand but there was only a trace amount
in his system, not enough to have caused the heart attack.
The story of the hustler apparently is just that -- a story.
MLW