Terral Ray Shinn

Terral was born on September 8, 1937, to William Lloyd Shinn and Mattie Geraldine Gamblin in Longview, Washington. After a brief period in Longview, the family returned to Amarillo, Texas. Terral attended Amarillo public schools and transferred to Palo Duro High School for his senior year and was part of the first graduating class at Palo Duro High School in 1956.

He went on to work various jobs until 1960 when he started working for Southwestern Public Service/ Xcel Energy. He retired in July 1999 after almost 40 years of service.

His first marriage to Margie Brannum blessed him with a daughter, Rhonda Shinn, who relocated with her mother to Mineral Wells, Texas after their divorce.

He enlisted in the army in 1962 and soon after, met the love of his life, Eva Marie Tenorio, who was widowed with 5 children. While stationed in Ft. Knox, Kentucky, he left base to marry Eva on May 11, 1963, by the Justice of the Peace. Terral welcomed Eva’s children as his own. He completed his service in Army in Germany from December 1963-October 1965. He was Private 1st Class, E4, Specialist 4th Class sharpshooter in the tank weapons division, earning good conduct medals and unit citations. He was honorably discharged November 1968.

Terral and Eva lived a fulfilling life together, enjoying dancing, concerts, traveling, backyard barbeques and baseball. Together they were dedicated fans of the Amarillo Gold Sox and Amarillo Dillas for many years, even hosting the entire baseball team for cook outs. They loved to go to Las Vegas, visit their family and were members of Blessed Sacrament Church.

Terral did not know a stranger. He enjoyed meeting new people and loved talking on the telephone to his family and friends.

Eva died on April 22, 2018, having spent 55 years of marriage to Terral. Terral lived alone until he fell in his Amarillo home in October 2020. He endured a long recovery and then moved to Lubbock to live with his stepdaughter, Tommie Mueller, receiving home health care for the next two years. His health deteriorated in July 2022, and despite rehabilitation, he was never able to return to his full strength. He never complained and was loved by all his caregivers, he was known as “the best patient” because he remained kind to all and loved to tell his favorite memories spent with his wife Eva. He shared trinkets and cherished memorabilia with his nurse aides and other caregivers who shared in the love of old country music.

Terral died peacefully in his Lubbock home on October 4th, 2022.

He was preceded in death by his parents, stepdaughter Yvonne Tenorio, wife Eva Marie, stepson Max Tenorio, and stepson Ronnie Tenorio. He is survived by his daughter Rhonda Shinn and granddaughter Ashley of Mineral Wells, TX; sister and brother-in-law Barbara and Jim Crim of Amarillo, TX; stepdaughter Tommie Mueller of Lubbock, TX; stepson Jerry Tenorio and his wife Betty of Amarillo, TX; Ronnie’s wife Mary Lois, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The family would like to sincerely thank American Star Home Health Care of Lubbock for their dedicated and continuous care for almost 2 years and to Bridge Hospice of Lubbock for their compassionate care in the final days of Terral’s life.

A graveside service for Terral will be held Saturday, October 15, 2022 at 3:00 PM at Memorial Park Cemetery, 6969 Interstate 40 East, Amarillo, Texas 79118. Following the graveside service will be a gathering of family & friends from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM at Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 Interstate 40 East, Amarillo, Texas 79118.

Serving as pallbearers are James Walker, Randy Perez, Jim Crin, Nathan Tomlinson, Paul Tenorio, Todd Rose and Wayne Travis.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.memorialparkamarillo.com for the Shinn family.