Captain Berry L. Meaux, USCG (Ret)

Captain Berry L. Meaux, USCG (Ret), age 82, longtime Oak Harbor resident, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010, following a lengthy illness. He was surrounded by his loving family. Berry survived almost four years after surgery for pancreatic cancer.

Berry was born Feb. 25, 1928, at Quincy, Ill., to John D. and Mary Lasbury Meaux. The family lived in Pike County, Ill., until 1937 when they moved to Lockport and then to Joliet, Ill. After graduation from high school, he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in July 1945 and went through boot camp in Brooklyn, N.Y. He was transferred to the Coast Guard Academy Prep School, Groton, Conn., until his discharge in June 1946.

In July 1946 he entered the United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn., graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree, and was commissioned an Ensign in June 1950. On June 3, 1950, he married Luella Ferguson. During the Korean War he was stationed on the cutter Yocona, Eureka, Calif. After a year, he was transferred to the destroyer escort Lowe, Long Beach, Calif. This was followed by a one-year tour as Commanding Officer of the CG Loran Station, Biorka Island, Alaska. He then served a three-year tour as Executive Officer on the cutter Aurora in Savannah, Ga.

In 1957 he was assigned as Press Officer, Public Information Division, Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C. In 1958 he competed with the CG National pistol team at the National Matches, Camp Perry, Ohio. In January 1960 while on temporary assignment to the icebreaker Eastwind on Deepfreeze 60, while en route to McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, he and a Navy oceanographer were the first persons to land by Eastwind’s helicopter on tiny Scott Island, south of the Antarctic Circle.

In 1961 he served two years as commanding officer, buoy tender Planetree. The cutter serviced aids to navigation in the Hawaiian Islands and the central and western Pacific Ocean. In 1967 he returned to Hawaii as commanding officer of the high endurance cutter Chautauqua assigned to ocean station duties between Midway Island and Japan. He had previously served four years in the 13th CG District Office, Seattle, as Military Readiness Officer.

He reported in September 1969 for his last assignment in the Public Affairs Division, CG Headquarters, Washington, DC. In July 1974 he retired as a Captain and was the chief of the division at that time.

Captain Meaux and his wife moved to Oak Harbor in November 1974. He was a volunteer fireman for four years at the Silver Lake Fire Station, and a member of the Navy Flying Club and Gallery Golf Course for several years. He was also a member of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church and active in the Cursillo Movement and the Kairos Prison Ministry at Monroe State Prison.

Meaux was a member of the Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association. He was an active member of the Whidbey Island Genealogical Searchers and the Whidbey Playhouse for many years. While a Playhouse member, he appeared on stage in 18 plays and was on the production staff for 14 other shows. He also constructed over 90 flats, platforms and stair units for sets used in playhouse productions. In 1997 he was named Playhouse Volunteer of the Year.

He was a Life Member of the Military Officer’s Association, the National Rifle Association and the Law Enforcement Alliance of America.

Berry is survived by his wife, Luella F. Meaux; three children Alan Meaux and wife Letta, Janis Leslie and husband Richard, all of Oak Harbor, and son Wayne Meaux of Sandpoint, Idaho; also, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be Saturday, Nov. 20, at 11 a.m. at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, 555 SE Regatta Dr., Rev. Paul Orritt officiating. Military Honors will be presented under the auspices of the United States Coast Guard Seattle Area Honor Guard. Memorials may be made to the Kairos Prison Ministry, 130 University Park Dr., Suite 170, Winter Park, FL 32792, or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 3200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. Family and friends are encouraged to share condolences at www.whidbeymemorial.com.