Cleo Imogene (Berry) Loveless went to be with the Lord Jesus Christ on Thursday, January 12, 2023. Cleo was born on November 11, 1924 at home on a farm near Monroe City, IN to Walter and Mary Agnes (Williams) Berry, the third of seven children.
After graduating from Monroe City High School in 1942, she pursued her career as a secretary working at Wright-Patterson Field in Dayton, Ohio and Republic Aviation in Evansville in the personnel departments during WWII to support that effort. After the war, she continued her work as a secretary at Indiana State Teacher’s Association in Indianapolis, then returned home to Knox County to work at the Water Department in Vincennes and finally Monroe City High School.
After she married Ernest Truman Loveless, Jr. on October 9, 1954, she became a full-time homemaker and continued utilizing her secretarial and receptionist skills to support her husband’s business as a petroleum geologist. Her home and her family were truly the loves of her life. She cherished her family. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother, and a fantastic cook and homemaker. Hearkening back to her youth of being raised on a farm, she enjoyed gardening, especially planting and tending to her flowers, yard, and landscaping at her home in Monroe City. She also delighted in feeding and watching birds, particularly hummingbirds. Strong in her faith, she was a lifelong member of Walnut Grove United Methodist Church and enjoyed participating in activities, singing, and attending services there.
Her husband Ernie preceded her in death on November 2, 2016 after 62 years of marriage. She is survived by her son Brad Loveless and his wife Kim of Sullivan; her daughter Gina Dauer and her husband Joe of Newburgh; her grandchildren Brooke Ziegler and Tara Laue of Vincennes, Tom Dauer of Oakland, CA, and Scott Dauer of Aurora, CO; her great grandchildren Lexi Ziegler, Madisyn Ziegler, Noah Ziegler, Austin Laue, Abby Laue, Aiden Laue; and her great-great grandchild Ryan Youngren.
Also surviving is her brother, Donald Berry of Indianapolis and Dixie Nelson of Jeffersonville, along with many much-loved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Carmen Harrell of Monroe City and Gloria Cleveland of Sandborn; brothers Merlin Berry of Petersburg and Jack Berry of Indianapolis; and parents Walter and Agnes Berry of Monroe City.
Cleo was a lifelong basketball fan and loved attending games and cheering on the teams at Monroe City High School, then South Knox High School. She was an avid IU Hoosier fan and enjoyed watching their games as well as any Big Ten team. During the summer, she turned her attention to watching her favorite baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 pm on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at Walnut Grove United Methodist Church at 1339 East Governor’s Road, Monroe City with Pastor Brenda Wick officiating. Burial will follow at the cemetery there. Visitation will be from noon until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Walnut Grove United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 215, Monroe City, IN 47557. Online memories may be shared with Cleo’s family and friends at www.goodwinsievers.com. Goodwin-Sievers Funeral Home is privileged and honored to be entrusted with the care of Cleo and her family.
