She is survived by her husband Charles (Chuck) Sledge, sons Bruce [Kathryn Davies] and Kevan Sledge, granddaughter Kaye and grandsons John and Nolan and brother George Hemm.
Terry was born on July 22nd, 1946 in The Dalles, Oregon to Wayne and Ruth Hemm.
She traveled around the US and abroad with her family while her father, a Colonel in the US Air Force, was stationed at different bases during his career.
While he was stationed at Cannon Air Force base in New Mexico, Terry went to college at ENMU in Portales where she met Chuck in 1964. They were married in 1966 in Hobbs, NM. They moved to California in 1966 after Chuck's father, Bryan, moved to San Diego for work. Chuck joined the Coast Guard while Terry worked in an office for ARCO from 1966-1970.
In 1971 Terry and Chuck bought a Pawn business in Orange and their house in 1971. Bruce and Kevan were born in 1970 and 1972 respectively.
In 1975, they took over the jewelry business that Bryan had opened in Orange County after working in San Diego.
Terry worked at the jewelry store, making good friends and contacts with customers, taking care of all the records and paperwork, and showing inventory to customers. She sold more than most with her charm, smile, charisma, and genuineness. The Pawn business was eventually sold to focus on the jewelry business exclusively.
Terry enjoyed many things, but among some of her favorite hobbies were bowling during her younger years, photography, interior decoration, writing letters and sending photos to her long list of family, friends, and acquaintances with whom she never lost touch.
She had a talent for always remembering birthdays and other special occasions of all family and friends, and sent cards or gifts like clockwork to so many. She was incredible like that, as most will attest!
Terry enjoyed trips with family to visit her parents in Oregon and then Reno after they moved around 1990. She also enjoyed the occasional Las Vegas trip for some fun and fine dining. She always appreciated fine restaurants and would enjoy going out occasionally for something special to savor with family.
Terry was a great cook and made some delicious meals, especially for holidays over the years.
Terry also enjoyed travelling to see Bruce perform in operas in the US, Europe, and Canada as she loved to see new places and watch her son sing.
While she was in Paris in 2004 to see one of Bruce's operas with Chuck, Kevan, and great friend Jane Dobbins, she was able to visit the French Chateau that she stayed in with family when her father and two other officers rented it out in 1955.
They were stationed nearby and the months Terry spent in the Chateau were some of her finest memories. Terry had not seen it since she was a young girl, but kept in touch with the owners and arranged a visit and tour of the interior and exterior during her nostalgic visit.
She was overjoyed to see her childhood fairytale home again after so many years.
Terry also carefully followed Kevan's successful career in vintage car customization and membership in his renowned hot rod club 'The Shifters'. She documented and collected pictures and articles about all of his work and accolades. She had various magazine covers he appeared on with his latest creations framed for Kevan, and always shared his latest successes with family and friends.
Terry loved having her three grandchildren and would keep up with all of their hobbies, interests, and accomplishments. On birthdays and Christmases, she showered them with the perfect gifts, and gave them the best Christmases ever with festivity and joy.
Terry's favorite Bible scripture was 1 Corinthians 13: 4-10 which speaks of unconditional love and kindness. This summed up Terry's life, as she always had these qualities in spades and shared them with everyone.
She became a Born Again Christian in 1976 and her faith was a major part of her life from then on. Terry had a strong faith in the Lord and would wake up early for prayer every morning to start her day with reflection and gratitude.
Terry lived a wonderful life full of faith, love, hope, compassion, and generosity, She will be greatly missed, and the world is a bit emptier without such a loving and caring soul as hers.
We celebrate her many contributions to this world and her light that shined so brightly for all to enjoy!
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate a message sharing a memory of Terry, or sharing photos and/or a memory of Terry on this page. Please scroll to the bottom and click the "Add a Memory" button.
The Sledge Family
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