Terry Benton Kirk

Terry Benton Kirk, age 79, passed away on June 12, 2024, in Austin, Texas. He was a much enjoyed and loved son, father and grandfather. Terry grew up in San Antonio, Texas, the beloved only child of Loraine and Leon Kirk, "a true Scot" he would say, and always surrounded by a large loving supportive extended family, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Terry attended Texas A & I University in Kingsville, where he made lifetime friends with his fellow Delts.Terry's love of animals, nature, birds, the beautiful world that surrounded him led him to loving his Kirk Ranch in La Salle County, Texas where he raised and bred Santa Gertrudis cattle for 40 years and became an officer of the South Texas Santa Gertrudis Breeders Association, a worldwide breeders association. His adamant dedication to conservation led him to become a lifetime member and donor to the Dallas Safari Club with which he made numerous trips to South Africa. He loved fishing, traveling from Alaska to his beloved Islamorada, and fishing with his wife, Christie, and sons and grandsons.Golfing was a tremendous part of Terry's enjoyment of life, playing with his wife, sons, grandson and friends and "Friday group". How he loved the courses, throughout our country, the laughter, comradeship, forever memories.

Terry's passions and interests were broad and vibrant and dedicated, from ranching, barbecuing, to growing spinach and fresh vegetables in his garden where grandchildren "helped". He loved to cook and read from his extensive books of history, detective series, poetry and classics.

Sports was always a passion, knowing, learning, taking an interest in so many players of the Spurs, Orioles, Ravens, Texas A & M and most other College Football teams.

He loved music of all types, the instruments, the down home, funny wording of 'John Deere Green', country western to symphonic of nature, he played the cello, loved percussion and rock, Dire Straits, Stand by Me, The Drifters, Rolling Stones. Singing along to all.

Terry is preceded in death by his loving parents, aunts and uncles, and wife Sharron Geiss of 20 loving years.

Terry was wonderful, fun loving, blessed with a great memory, sharing and bringing a quick wit, stories, jokes and laughter with all.

He is survived by his admiring and loving wife, Christie, whom he married in Sitka, Alaska in 2010 and who shared his love of fishing, travel, golf, hunting and all their grandchildren’s' activities, baseball, ballet, soccer, golf, music.

He is survived by his two stepsons and their families - Derk and Carolyn Gnam, Lily, Charlotte, and June Gnam and Dr. Chad and Dawn Gnam, Jack Gnam and Ashley & Frank Phillips, his step daughter and her family, Carmen Celeste and Candido Garcia and their four children Emi-ly, Clay, Nolan and Cecilia and many close cousins.

He will be greatly missed for his zest for life, jokes and smiles and laughter he brought to all.Terry was close friends to all in every walk of life. A gift.