Terry W. McHenry

Born in Bloomington Springs, Tennessee to the late William “Hershel” and Cora McHenry. Terry honorably served in the United States Marine Corps from 1959 to 1962 where he achieved the rank of Lance Cpl. and sharp shooter. Terry moved to Michigan at the age of 16 when his father started working as a machinist. He worked as a master mechanic until retirement, and his entire life cherished any chance to spend time with his family. Terry’s wife Eleanor was the love of his life, he never remarried or dated after her death in 1997 because he said he already had the best. He, his sister Reva, brother-in-law Ben, and Eleanor loved to go out to play Bingo together. When Eleanor passed away, Terry carried on the tradition and would occasionally go to play Bingo with his daughter.

When the kids were growing up, Terry taught his kids how to fish on their many trips to Tennessee either at Center Hill Lake or to his Uncle Willie’s pond. He would practice shooting on self-made targets in the yard in Tennessee with his kids. Terry taught his daughter how to play softball and they would enjoy family game nights on Saturday when the kids were growing up.

Terry loved watching his grandsons play baseball and would go to games when he was able. One summer when his grandsons played travel ball, he was with them at every out of town tournament.

On weekends, Terry loved having his daughter and her family over for a bowl of chili, spaghetti, drunken chicken, or whatever Terry had thrown together that day from his cabinet. Terry made meals with whatever he had on hand and could never say exactly how he made it but it always tasted amazing. Terry collected friends wherever he went. Terry went on many adventures in his life where he met people he kept in contact with, but even a simple trip to the grocery store for Terry could be long because he would stop to chat with whoever was willing.

Terry loved spending time in Las Vegas. One year Terry had planned to go to Vegas with a friend, and when the friend wasn’t able to come after all Terry went by himself and still had a fantastic time at his usual spots and casinos. He would go watch the horse races at Northville Downs, Hazel Park or even DRC. He really enjoyed watching old Western movies with his grandsons. Terry’s first concert he went to with his daughter in 2017, they saw the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and the CD she gifted him after could always be heard playing in the house. Even though Terry moved to Michigan, he always kept his Tennessee roots. He made a point to call his sister in Tennessee every day to check on her. He traveled back and forth between Michigan and Tennessee to see family when he could. On one of his trips traveling back to Tennessee with his brother Joe while they were younger, they ran out of gas and coasted down the hills to make it home. He and Joe would laugh on and on recalling the trip.

Terry would help Joe hunt crows sticking those they had caught on posts as a way to scare off crows from eating the crops in Joe’s garden. When his daughter Denise heard about it, her and the boys would put pictures of crows around his house and in his freezer to prank him because of how funny and ridiculous everyone thought the tradition was. Nobody was a better sport about being pranked by his daughter and her friends than Terry.

A beloved husband of the late Eleanor for 32 years. Cherished father of Denise McHenry, Kevin (Malise) McHenry. Devoted Papa of Ashton and Aiden Cholewa. Grandfather to Allegra, Cora and Arabella McHenry. Loving brother of Lora Rose, Joe (Phyllis) McHenry, the late Barbara Reeves, Kenneth McHenry, Chuck McHenry, Reva Skimmihorn. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Dear friend of Bob (the late Maxine) Lentz and friend to all.

Any occasion whether it was a holiday, birthday, or just a day that ended in a “y” Terry would toast to the event with a shot of moonshine. No McHenry wedding or get together will ever be the same without him. He will be missed dearly by all who survive him.

Visitation Friday, July 22nd from 2:00 - 9:00 p.m. at A.H. Peters Funeral home in Warren. The family will be in state at 9:00 a.m. until time of service at 10:00 a.m. at A.H. Peters Funeral Home 32000 Schoenherr Road in Warren. Burial to take place at Christian Memorial Gardens West in Rochester Hills. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the wishes of the family are appreciated.