Elizabeth Helen Terrell

Our devoted mother, Elizabeth Schalk Terrell, passed away peacefully in her home Monday morning, January 22, 2024. In her final days, she was surrounded by her loving family with whom she had celebrated her 97th birthday only two months earlier.

Elizabeth, the first born of Elizabeth and Robert Schalk, was born on November 22, 1926, in Fort Collins, Colorado. She lived with her family in Denver during her early years. When World War II intensified, the family moved to New York for her father’s profession and her parents volunteered in patriotic service for America. Later, Elizabeth attended the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, and she was active with her Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.

During a school break, her father arranged for Elizabeth and her friends to ride the train to Sun Valley. She met John Terrell, who was a very handsome young man in his Army uniform. Our father won her heart. And they married on June 6, 1949, at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral in Denver, with an elegant reception at the Broodmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colorado. John was a student at the University of New Mexico and they began married life in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Elizabeth worked at the University of New Mexico until their children were born.

Her fondest memories were of being a mother. They had a beautiful home with a spacious yard for all the pets. Elizabeth enjoyed gardening, loved animals, had many friends, was active in the Monte Vista Elementary School, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church as well as the girls’ Brownie Scouts troop and projects.

The family moved to Corona del Mar, California, where she was active in the PTA and St. James Episcopal Church. She had dogs, cats, a rabbit, and numerous other pets. Elizabeth stayed fully engaged raising her three children and took a position at the University of California, Irvine, in the English Department’s Post Doctorate School of Literary Criticism.

She and John spent many a winter driving to Lake Tahoe with the dog and a pet South American Spider monkey, Walter, to visit their son’s family and had a happy retirement traveling.

At 97 years of age, Elizabeth remained in her home with caregivers and home companions. Her family and caregivers enjoyed going out to lunch and taking long drives with Elizabeth daily.

Elizabeth is preceded in death by her husband, A. John Terrell; parents Elizabeth W. Partridge and Robert L. Schalk; and her brother Robert L. Schalk, Jr.

Survivors include: her sister-in-law Carolyn Schalk; her children Patricia Elyse Terrell, Marilee Diane Terrell, John Scott Terrell and his wife, Carole Terrell. She loved and was loved by four grandchildren, Phillip Kopp, Scottie Shelton and Madelaine Baer-Shelton, Bryce Terrell and Jessica Kirkman, Alexa and Jonathan Daniel; as well as four great grandchildren, Enzo and Lara Kopp, Finnigan and May Baer-Shelton.

Family and friends will gather for a celebration of her life at Pacific View Memorial Cemetery, Corona del Mar, California, Friday, February 9, 2024, from 1:00 pm, followed by a reception.