Earl W. Terry

Born on Christmas Day 1921 to parents Orville and Eliza Terry, Earl was the oldest of 3 children. He was raised on the south side of Des Moines and graduated from Lincoln High School. He met Nita (Fuller) and eloped and celebrated 63 years together before her passing in 2005. Earl bravely served in the United States Army during WWII and the United States Air Force during the Korean War.

Earl and Nita had two children, Earl (Marty) and Diana. They resided in Des Moines until they picked up their house and moved it to Norwalk. Board by board he added onto the house. He was a skilled auto body repairman owning his own business with his father then eventually moving on to work at Crescent Chevrolet.

His grandchildren will tell you that he always had two quarters in his pocket, a candy dish full of goodies, hugs, and in the fall, a large pile of leaves to jump in. He was known for his spaghetti, fudge he made only at Christmas time, and oyster stew that he could only get the family members by marriage to eat. He loved spending summers fishing at Long Lake with family, enjoying time at the cabin at Rock Creek, Ia, playing cribbage, and cheering on the Hawkeyes.

Earl passed away on July 10, 2018 living a full life for 96 years and will be missed deeply by his family. His surviving family members are children; Earl Terry, Diana (John) Yuskis; grandchildren, Dawn (Kirk) Lockwood, Chad (Jane) Terry, Aaron (Heather) Yuskis, Brad (Shannon) Terry, Jodi (Dan) Baker, and Meredith (Aaron) Long; 15 great-grandchildren; sister, Doris (John) Roth; brother, Orville (Sharon) Terry Jr; sister-in-law, Vivian Terry; brother-in-law; Larry (Marilyn) Fuller; daughter-in-law, Cheryl Mills, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Orville and Eliza Terry; and beloved wife, Nita.

The family will greet friends Monday July 16, 2018 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th Street. Funeral services will be held Monday July 16, 2018 at 12:00 pm at the funeral home. Earl will be laid to rest with military honors at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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