Eugene "Gene" Terry

He and his twin sister, Daphene, were born to Oscar and Lela Terry on September 29, 1932, on a farm in Purdon, Texas and graduated from Samnorwood High School, Samnorwood, Texas in 1950. During high school, Gene wore the number 2 on his basketball uniform and cultivated a love for the game that he maintained throughout his life.

At age 18, Gene joined the United States Air Force and attended basic training at Lake Charles Air Force Base in Lake Charles, LA followed by airman and aircraft maintenance training in San Antonio, Chicago, and Tulsa. Post training, Private Terry was stationed in Korea where he served his country as an aircraft mechanic.

While in Korea, Gene’s cousin shared his picture with Frances Bell, then of Wellington, Texas. With a bit of encouragement, Frances began corresponding with Gene and they wrote to each other diligently for eight months. During a leave from Korea on Christmas Eve 1952, they had their first date and were smitten. By the time he reported back to Korea for active duty in January 1953, they were engaged. Gene and Frances married in Wellington, Texas on May 24, 1953, and their union lasted for 65 years until Frances death in 2019.

After working on his father’s farm for several months, Gene and Frances moved to Amarillo, Texas where their first daughter, Deanna, was born. Gene attended welding school there and, once certified, began his welding career in Albuquerque, New Mexico where they welcomed their second daughter, Lisa. He loved his work, owning welding businesses in Gillette, WY, Fort Lupton, and Tucson, AZ. Gene was 76 years old when he reluctantly retired and then returned with Frances to Greeley to live with Deanna in 2013.

Gene was a man of deep faith and an ardent Bible reader. He served as a deacon and/or elder at churches of Christ in Albuquerque, Gillette, Greeley, and Tucson. He most recently attended the Westview Church of Christ in Greeley.

Gene and Frances enjoyed traveling together with friends and family. Some of their favorite destinations were Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Washington, D.C., and the Grand Canyon. Gene cherished nature of all kinds, but his favorite retreat was the Rawah Wilderness in north central Colorado.

Gene also loved watching NCAA men’s basketball, especially the University of Arizona Wildcats, a team he and Frances watched and cheered for during and after their 27 years living in Tucson, AZ. March Madness was an event for him and Frances, and they attended Final Four tournaments in San Antonio and New Orleans. He was also an avid fan of the Golden State Warriors, the Colorado Rockies, and the Denver Broncos.

Gene was enormously proud of his “girls” and loved and protected them all vigorously. He frequently reminisced about family fun with Frances, Deanna, and Lisa - whether a Christmas Day horsedrawn sleigh ride in the mountains of Aspen or the road trips they took in the early years playing games, laughing, and singing songs in the family Pontiac. Gene had a dry sense of humor, was kind, compassionate, generous, and was known to be a man of great integrity and work ethic.

Gene is survived by his two daughters, Deanna Terry of Greeley and Lisa Terry (Christin Espinoza), also of Greeley, his sister LeDon Baird of Amarillo, TX, and many beloved nieces and nephews. His twin sister, Daphene Roach of Amarillo, TX passed away on August 13th. He is preceded in death by his wife Frances, his father and mother, two brothers, two sisters and two nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, September 5, 2024, at Allnutt Funeral Services, Macy Chapel, 6521 W. 20th St., Greeley. A dessert reception will follow.