08/26/2026
Joe Berry Corley
December 7, 1936 – August 23, 2026
Joe Berry Corley passed away on August 23, 2026, at the age of 89. Joe Berry Corley was born December 7, 1936, in Dallas, Texas, and was raised in Garland, Texas. He graduated from Garland High School and attended North Texas State University. After leaving school, Joe Berry began working for Stark Taylor & Sons Cotton Brokers in Dallas.
Joe Berry married the love of his life, Shirley Martin, in August 1959. Together, Joe Berry and Shirley shared 67 years of marriage and built a life centered around family, service, and community.
Joe Berry entered the United States Army on December 4, 1959, and was stationed in Killeen, Texas. He served until his honorable discharge in 1961.
In September 1962, Joe Berry began what would become a long and distinguished career with the City of Garland Fire Department. During his 31 years of service, he spent much of his career serving at Fire Stations 2, 4, and 5. Joe Berry also completed Peace Officer training through the City of Garland Police Department and served as an Arson Investigator, combining his experience as a firefighter with law enforcement training to serve and protect the Garland community. After more than three decades of dedicated service, Joe Berry retired from the City of Garland Fire Department.
Throughout his life, Joe Berry was hardworking and entrepreneurial. In addition to his career with the Fire Department, he worked at several businesses and at one time owned and operated Mack's Delivery Service.
In 1981, Joe Berry was raised a Master Mason at Duck Creek Lodge #1419 in Garland, Texas. He joined Hella Shrine on November 7, 1981, beginning many years of service and fellowship within the organization. Joe Berry served as a Potentate's Aide Emeritus and was involved with numerous Hella Shrine groups and committees, including the Hella Greeters, Garland Shrine Club, Directors Staff, Hella Clowns, Hella 101's, Bowlers, Parade Committee, Building Committee, and Hella Decorating Committee.
Joe Berry was known for his life of service and his willingness to take on any job, big or small. Whether he was remodeling different parts of the Hella Temple, lending his skills to the Shrine, or helping a family member remodel or repair a home - often for the price of a beer - Joe Berry was always willing to lend a hand.
Joe Berry had many loves in his life, but his wife, Shirley, was always at the top of the list. Family meant everything to him, and he believed deeply in supporting and taking care of the people he loved.
He was also a jokester and a man of many wonderfully humorous expressions. His sheepish grin and signature roll of the eyes were family favorites and could often say more than words ever could.
Becoming a grandfather opened an entirely new place in Joe Berry's heart, and the love he had for his grandchildren was overflowing. To his grandsons, he wasn't just their grandfather - he was "Pa." Pa loved teaching them the things he knew - carpentry skills, car mechanics, and how to fix just about anything. But those lessons were about much more than learning how to use a tool or work on a car. It was during those hours spent working side by side that Pa shared stories, passed along a little life advice, and created memories that would become priceless. The skills he taught them will last a lifetime, but it is the conversations, laughter, lessons, and time spent with Pa that they will carry with them forever.
Joe Berry was preceded in death by his parents, Katherine Cole and Joe Hayes Corley; his brother, Henry Corley; and Henry's wife, Dana Corley.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Shirley Martin Corley; his daughters, Kimberly Young and husband Brian, and Candace Money and husband Chris; his grandsons, Clayton Adams and wife Lulu, Andrew Miller and wife Jasmyn, and Keith Money; his granddaughters, Madison Young and Jessica Money; and his great-grandson, Jax Joe Adams.
Joe Berry was a very private and quiet man, but you always knew where you stood with him - good or bad. He didn't need a lot of words to make himself understood. Those who knew him knew his values, his loyalty to the people he loved, and the importance he placed on family.
His faith was an important part of those values. Joe Berry believed in God and believed that children should be raised in church, giving them roots of faith to fall back on when life becomes difficult.
At 89 years old, Joe Berry had lived long enough to say goodbye to so many of the people who had shared the different chapters of his life. His parents and brother, many of the friends he grew up with, classmates, fellow firefighters, co-workers, and dear friends had gone before him. While those left behind grieve his absence, his family finds comfort imagining the tremendous reunion taking place in Heaven as Joe Berry is welcomed by so many familiar faces who have been waiting for him.
For those of us still here, there will be an unmistakable absence. We will miss his quiet presence, his humor, that sheepish grin and roll of the eyes, his willingness to help, his advice - whether we asked for it or not - and simply knowing that Joe Berry was there.
He will be greatly missed, deeply loved, and forever remembered.
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