Elva June Terry

Elva June (Winchester) Terry loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother, sister, aunt, and dear friend passed away May 8, 2013 in Portland, OR. June was born in Kinsley, KS on Tuesday, December 22, 1925 to Lenora Ann (Walker) and John W. Winchester.

June's early education was in Kinsley having attended Northside & Southside Grade Schools and Kinsley Junior High and Senior High School where she graduated in 1943. June worked in Kinsley during high school and when she couldn’t attend college right away, she traveled to Emporia, KS and Seattle, WA where she worked at Troy Laundry on the shirt line.

In January, 1945 she had the opportunity to return to Winfield, KS and began her studies at Southwestern College from which she matriculated in May 1948 with a Bachelors of Art Degree in Home Economics. Each summer June returned to the Seattle area where she worked at various positions.

Upon finishing school, June moved to Pratt, KS where she met her first husband. She later traveled to Los Angeles and married Leroy Edwards. Her first son, Keith was born in Los Angeles. They lived in Hollywoodland where her husband worked and later in Los Angeles eventually moving back to Pratt, KS. There she had her second son, Gary. The family separated in the mid-fifties and were later divorced.

June came to Oregon in 1958 and married Willis Terry in Jan. 1960.

June worked at Nabisco Packing House for about a year and a half leaving there to work for the State of Oregon in 1960 as a caseworker, where she remained until she retired in Nov. 1981. While employed with the state June worked in Hillsboro from Sept. 1968 – June of 1970 when she returned to Portland State where she received her Masters Degree in Social work. Prior to that time she took some upper level classes at the Division of Continuing Education at Portland State. She went to work in Multnomah County as a Social Worker until her retirement in 1981. She also worked for and with Dr. Carl Parker in his school for several years ending in Dec. 1992.

In leadership roles June was active in her community. She served as a Den Mother in the Boy Scouts of America, PTA at Jefferson High School as well as serving at Tubman as a sponsor traveling with a group of students on a trip to Canada. She volunteered in HOST program at Sabin upon retirement. She volunteered in the private schools where two of her grandchildren attended. She worked for Metro Family Services as a volunteer in the public schools from 1999 – 2013. She also served on the Citizen’s Review Board (Juvenile Court) for 17 ½ years before retiring in Dec. 2009. June also served her Church for a lifetime; as a choir member and officer, church school teacher, trustee, steward, YPD director, missionary, etc. In her later years she completed computer classes at Portland Community College.

June was a supporter of youth sports. She headed up several fundraising campaigns at church. June was honored as Volunteer of the year by Metro Family Services in 2008 and also received a hero’s award from Bank of America in 2008.

June dabbled in paint for a while. She discovered her passion to paint “still” pictures and she enjoyed the relaxation and peace it gave her. June collected some of the late Phil Reid’s paintings. She upholstered her dining room chairs. She liked baking rolls and she had a business for a short time.

June worked on the Charles Jordan campaign when he was successfully campaigning for City Commissioner. She also vigorously campaigned for candidate for President of the United States Sen. Barack Obama in 2008 and again in 2012.

June was a lover of music and filled her life with it… singing and listening to traditional, sacred, classical and inspirational music. She also had an organ which she enjoyed playing.

June is survived by her son, Keith; husband, Willis (Gary preceded her in death) and 10 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and 1 great- great grandchild; sisters Dorothy and Norma many nieces and nephews.

June will be greatly missed by all of her family and a host of friends. She will be remembered for her generous spirit, her dabbling in scarf making, her “famous” homemade rolls and her fruit salads. June wanted to “help” everyone. Her legacy will live on forever through each of her family and friends.