Terry Willams, 87

Celebration of the life of Terry Williams - husband, father, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.

The Lord called Terry Williams home on March 1, 2021, while wintering in Palm Desert, Calif.

Terrell Robert Williams (also called TR, T-burger, Tiger-Ricky, TR Terrific) was born in Tacoma, Wash., June 30, 1934, to Robert Terrell and Vivian Esther Williams.

Terry graduated from Fife High School in Washington on May 29, 1952. Terry worked for the Forest Service out of North Bend for a while. Then Terry's love of bluegrass & country music lead Terry and his friend, Les Cook, to Southern California to make their fame and fortune as singers. However, even though they played in a number of honky tonks in southern California in the mid to late 1950s, they were never discovered. Les returned to Washington and Terry remained in the Los Angeles area.

Terry worked in the print shop for the MTA bus company for several years (claiming years later that working in the noise of the print shop had affected his hearing – great excuse for not paying attention to what his wife said). After MTA, he worked for Singer Sewing Machine for two years, and then in the late 1960s Terry went to work for Allstate Insurance.

Terry met Connie in Burbank, Calif., in 1982. They dated for five years and on July 25, 1987, in Carson City, Nev., Terry and Connie were married. Terry retired from Allstate Insurance in April, 1992, as a senior account agent, after 25-plus years. They moved from Sunland, Calif., in May 1992 to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Upon arriving in Coeur d’Alene, Bill and Shirley Hosford introduced Terry and Connie to Dale Nosworthy and the Nosworthy clan, who introduced them to the many friends they made. They enjoyed Friday night high school football games and traveled across the border to Canada for golf.

Terry also enjoyed being a snowbird in Palm Desert for the past seven years, sitting on the patio looking out on the 12th fairway and enjoying the sunshine, while reading the local newspaper.

Terry was a member of the Coeur d'Alene Elks and Eagles and enjoyed volunteering at the Eagles to cook hot dogs at the downtown street fair. Both he and Connie manned the cookie wagon at the eastbound Huetter rest stop, taking the last shift of the day so they could listen to the Mariners baseball game and visit with the many truckers and travelers who stopped to chat, have a cup of coffee and a fresh baked cookie or two.

Terry enjoyed golfing, fishing, running, walking and working out (his exercise kept him going until three weeks before he passed away).

Terry enjoyed telling stories and being with his family and friends. He enjoyed getting together with his school buds from Fife High School and reminiscing about those days.

Terry enjoyed coming up with funny poems and jingles. When he was in Los Angeles, a disc jockey by the name of Dick Whittinghill had a radio show. Dick encouraged people to write jingles that tied into a particular song and send them in because they might win a car ... and guess who won a car - Terry!

Terry is preceded in death by his parents, Robert & Vivian Williams, brother Fred, sister Nancy, son Robert and daughter Michelle. Terry now watches down from heaven on his wife, Connie, of 33 years, his brother Roger (wife Ruth), son James (wife Gwynne), grandson Daniel, granddaughter Krystal, grandson Joshua, stepdaughter Rebecka Hoyer, nephew & niece Doug & Chris Jewell, nephew Scott Lake (wife Laurene), nephew Donny Lake (wife Mara), sister-in-law Sabrina Dallen, brother-in-law Errol David, great nephews Ryan and Cody Jewell, nieces Deanna and Brianna, niece Tracie Edelson, nephew Shane Edwards and three great-grandsons and three great-granddaughters.

Terry was happy to say he was a Christian. He and Connie started attending worship in the Lord’s house at North Country Chapel, in 2005. Through the North Country Chapel we were blessed with meeting many wonderful people who became very dear friends.

Terry told Connie several days before he passed that “he was right with the Lord”.

In remembrance of Terry, a donation in Terry's name to the Salvation Army is welcomed.

The family & close friends will gather to celebrate Terry's life in June.