In the early morning hours of August 7, Terrell Ray Angus, unexpectedly and peacefully passed from this life. He was at home with Susan, his wife of almost 54 years, by his side. Though his health in recent months had raised concerns, the day before his death he was in good spirits and spent the day chatting with family, doing chores, and travelling with his life-long friend, Larry Dickey, to a Coop board meeting in north Alabama.
At the time of his death Terrell was 74 and had lived his entire life, short of a two-year stint in the military, within less than a 1.5-mile radius in the hills and hollows of Giles County, Tennessee near Campbellsville. On September 21, 1945 he was born in Columbia, Tennessee as the youngest of six children to Willie L. and Lois Elise Wells Angus. He was their only son to survive into adulthood and as such was spoiled and lovingly known as “Bubba”, a nickname also used by his niece and nephews and their children throughout his life.
A couple years after graduating from Campbellsville High School, a beautiful red-headed girl, Susan Gayle Page, who was working at the soda foundation in the Lynnville Drug Store caught his attention and stole his heart. They were married a year later at East Side Church of Christ in Columbia, Tennessee on August 27, 1966. Terrell served for almost two years in the United States Army at Fork Polk and Fort Campbell until being honorably discharged to return home to tend to the Angus family farm after his father fell from the barn loft breaking his back. He was in the Army Reserves for 20 years.
Terrell loved farming and being on a tractor. His farm was adjacent to the one he had grown up on and up until his mother’s health failed, he ate dinner at her table almost every day. He raised cattle – dairy cattle early on and then beef cattle, grew large crops of tobacco until the price support program ended, and cut and baled more hay through the years than could be tallied. He served on the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) Committee and travelled as part of a Phillip Morris Leadership Program to South America to share knowledge and skills with tobacco farmers there. Terrell was also renowned for his sausage-making and country ham curing skills, which not only carried on a long-time Southern tradition but allowed him to spent time with good friends. Farming was in his blood - the dirt was never completely out from under his nails.
Terrell and Susan would have celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary in a few weeks. Over their years together they parented two independent, headstrong, and hard-working daughters to know that respect is associated with character and actions and not status or wealth. They weathered many literal and figurative storms trying to keep a farm operation going – the literal ones guaranteed a trip to the storm cellar (i.e. “the storm hole”). They owned and operated T&S Lawn Service since Terrell stopped growing tobacco more than 20 years ago. Mowing lawns was like cutting hay only with smaller equipment. It was something he could do almost year-round if the weather was amenable and it allowed him to drive a tractor. He cut grass for some of his favorite clients up until three weeks ago.
For years Terrell and Susan were season ticket holders for Vanderbilt football and basketball and rarely missed a home game. He always had to be early wherever he went and hated crowds. This was most on display when attending these games where he would arrive so early that the parking lots were empty and would leave at the end of the third quarter to not be caught in traffic. It is doubtful that Terrell ever celebrated a Vandy win outside of the confines of his car travelling south on I-65. He did manage to see the end of his grandson John’s championship football game last year (smaller crowd and less traffic) and was so very proud of him.
Terrell had a huge soft spot for animals. He once bought a slow-moving young Holstein steer from the stockyard because it was being whipped through the shoots. “Slow” grew to be huge and lived a long, stress-free life wandering around the farm with the rest of his small herd. None of the old cows at the Angus farm were sent off to slaughter in their golden years. Through the years the farm was also home to many dogs and cats, most that just appeared by the backdoor. But his all-time favorite dog was “won” by one of his daughters in a grab bag at the school carnival and was spoiled with daily trips to the store for Hershey’s bars. And yes, he was aware that chocolate is not good for dogs (but it made June happy and she did live to be old).
Terrell’s favorite pastime of recent years was spending Saturdays with his friend, Vernon Hazelwood, touring the Amish farm stands in Lawrence County and spoiling some of the Amish children with bags of candy and coolers of ice and cold drinks. He also loved going to the Campbellsville Cafe for breakfast and coffee where he could visit and catch up on the news of the day.
A devoted member of the Odds Fellows Hall Church of Christ, Terrell proudly served as a deacon for the last four years. He cherished the fellowship shared with members of his church.
Terrell is survived by his wife Susan; his daughters, Allysia Angus of Escalante, Utah, and Daphne (Derrick) Garrett of Lynnville, Tennessee; his grandson, John Garrett; his sisters, Sue (Edwin) Lovell and Ann (Allen) Elias, and a niece and five nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, and siblings Gerald Dean Angus, Joe Bradford Angus, and Betty Fay Angus.
Graveside services are scheduled for 10 a.m. on Monday, August 10, 2020, at Glenwood Cemetery in Maury County. The family requests that those in attendance wear face masks. Memorial contributions may be made to the Odd Fellows Hall Church of Christ Scholarship Fund: 1875 Odd Fellows Hall Road, Pulaski, TN, 38478, or the Giles County Animal Shelter: 380 Bennett Drive, Pulaski, TN, 38478.
Carr & Erwin Funeral Home oversees arrangements.
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