Mary Lou Forrest, 86 of Kitty Hawk, NC deceased in Virginia Beach, Virginia of natural causes on November 10.

Mary Lou was born to Alfred and Marie Vanhorn in Tyrrell County on October 5, 1932. She graduated from Deep Creek High School in Chesapeake, Va. in 1950. She enjoyed an interesting and well-traveled life. She worked in office and hotel management and real estate for many years, most recently at Sun Realty in Kill Devil Hills. She was also a passionate NC certified master gardener. She worked for many years as a gardening and landscaping associate at Home Depot in Kitty Hawk and at the Kitty Hawk Garden Center well into her 80s.

She lived for a while in California, Washington, Oklahoma and Virginia before returning to her native North Carolina in 1979. She loved the Outer Banks more than any other place on Earth.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents Alfred and Marie Vanhorn, brother Alfred (Buddy) Vanhorn Jr.; and her beloved son, Joseph Berry. She is survived by sons; Linwood Berry of Toledo, Spain (and wife Nancy); Mac Berry of Lodi, California (and wife Stephanie); grandchildren: Sarah Berry, David Berry, Heather Berry-Stuth and Nicole Denton, Alton Berry; 11 great grandchildren; and her sisters Shelby Poe (and husband Tom) and Glendora Wicker.

A viewing will be held at Gallop Memorial Chapel, 6917 South Croatan Hwy. in Nags Head on Thursday November 15 at 1 p.m., followed by a memorial service there at 2 p.m.

Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.gallopfuneralservices.com.  Gallop Funeral Services, Inc. was entrusted with arrangements.