John Lane Berrey

August 31, 1958  -  October 2

Former Quapaw Nation Business Committee Chairman

John Lane Berrey, 67, of Joplin, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 25, 2025, surrounded by family at Freeman Memorial Hospital.

John was born on August 31, 1958, in Lakewood, Colorado, the fifth of seven children of Joseph Lane and Janet Long Berrey. His father’s aerospace engineering career took the family to Florissant, Missouri, where John spent his early school years, and later to Fountain Valley, California, where he graduated from Los Amigos High School in 1976.

Family road trips were a highlight of his youth — traveling across the country to visit relatives, camp, fish, and explore. A proud Boy Scout, John earned the rank of Eagle Scout after attending Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, an experience he treasured throughout his life.

After his family moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas, in 1977, John attended the University of Arkansas and earned his degree. Following graduation, he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, with his fiancée, Kim Jester. They married, shared 20 years together, and raised two children, Lane and Jack.

John began his career in sales with Hilti Corporation, but his growing interest in his Quapaw heritage and tribal governance inspired a new path. In 2002, he was elected Chairman of the Quapaw Tribal Business Committee, a position he held for nearly two decades.

Under his leadership, the Quapaw Nation achieved self-governance, developed Downstream and Saracen Casinos, and created numerous business and housing initiatives that provided jobs and strengthened the tribe’s economic foundation. He also led efforts to reclaim and consolidate tribal lands, secure federal funding for development, and pursue a landmark legal settlement on behalf of the Quapaw people.

Guided by a vision to restore a Quapaw presence in their ancestral home of Arkansas, John championed cultural, educational, and economic partnerships that reconnected the Nation to its roots. His advocacy helped pave the way for the creation of Saracen Casino, reflecting his belief that tribal enterprise could lift local communities and ensure long-term self-sufficiency.

After the devastating 2011 Joplin tornado, John led the Quapaw Nation in donating to rebuild the Leffen Center for Autism, where he met Sarah Cox, who he married in 2023.

Chairman Berrey will be remembered for his vision, perseverance, and deep commitment to the Quapaw people. His leadership leaves an enduring legacy that will continue to shape the Nation for generations to come.

John is survived by his two children, Lane and Jack; wife, Sarah and her children Liam and Henry Horton; mother, Janet; and sisters, Ellen Bauer, Jan Sadeghi, Mary Jo Gover, Kayte Pratt and Carol Boger. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph, and his brother, Jody.

A funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Mason-Woodard Mortuary in Joplin, with visitation immediately following in the Mason-Woodard Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites those wishing to honor John’s memory to make a donation to the Leffen Center for Autism.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of John Lane Berrey, please visit our Tree Store.5, 2025