Walter Frederick Berrett

Beloved husband, father and friend, passedaway November 5, 2005 after a 15-year battle with prostate cancer. Walter was born June 11, 1927 in Keyser, W. VA.; and at age 15 went to work for the B&O Railroad; in 1944, at age 17, he volunteered for the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific theater.He was honorably discharged in 1946, after which he began a long and distinguished career as a master carpenter and homebuilder. Walter moved to Dallas in 1952 and began working for the late R. W. Harrison; he joined the Masonic Lodge and was instrumental in constructing the lodge building for Mesquite Lodge No. 928, where he served as Worshipful Master. In 1975, he founded Walter Berrett Custom Homes.Walter retired from actively building houses in 1989, but continued to make cabinets, furniture and remodel homes for friends and family.Walter had an innate artistic talent and an ability to makealmost anything out of wood. He was a patient teacher who loved to share his knowledge with others. He also enjoyed keeping his friends supplied with produce from his garden, which he maintained with pleasure each year.Along with his affiliation with the Masonic Lodge, Walter was a Shriner and a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Forney. Walter is survived by his wife of 30 years, Dianne Lehman Berrett; daughter, Elizabeth Berrett of Oxford, MS; sister, Josephine Berrett Hull of Keyser, W. VA; daughter, Linda Wilson. He is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph William and Roberta Calhoun Berrett; brother John William Berrett; sister, Margaret Berrett Neel. The family would like to acknowledge the outstanding services provided by the Oncology Dept. at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, especially those nurses and techs on Jackson 2 East, and the chaplain services provided by Ariail Gores.They would also like to thank Dr. James Strauss, Dr. Paul Wade, and the other doctors who have assisted in Walter's care over the years. Services will be 2:00PM Wednesday November 9, 2005 at New Hope Funeral Home Chapel.Family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday evening from 4:00PM - 8:00PM.