Teri Quiggle, 78

Teri was born Teresa Faye Surby on April 14, 1947. Having been saved by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, she passed from this life at age 78 on July 30, 2025. 

She was the second of three children born to Barbara June and Arthur Oliver Surby. After her birth at a temporary hospital in Wilbur, Wash., while her dad was working at Grand Coulee Dam, Teri spent her early years on the family farm in Selle, Idaho. During her elementary and middle school years, the family moved into Sandpoint, and then eventually settled in the Spokane Valley, where she graduated from Central Valley High School in 1966. While at CV, Teri enjoyed twirling for the marching band, pursuing her artistic talent as a painter, and representing her junior class as a homecoming princess. 

Throughout her life, Teri was a very private person. By the time she met her husband-to-be, George, in February 1973, Teri had become a Forestry Tee student at Spokane Community College and would soon be named as the assistant manager for the Forestry Pavilion at Expo '74. 

George and Teri married during George's spring quarter break at EWU, March 23, 1974, and moved to Morton, Wash., soon after his graduation in June 1975. There, they co-managed Spiffy's Drive-In Restaurant. Never a couple who let moss grow between their toes, George and Teri moved their family successively from Morton to Cathlamet, Steilacoom, Vancouver, College Place, Walla Walla, Liberty Lake, Connell, Spokane Valley and Fairfield, all in the state of Washington. 

Prior to several years of deteriorating health, Teri completed her professional career as a school cook, managing the kitchen at Dixie, Wash., just north of Walla Walla. Always a talented artist, Teri transitioned over the years from painting, to batik, and then on to wood carving. For some unknown reason, Teri developed non-alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver, which eventually led to hepatic encephalopathy. George told Teri 50 years ago that she would be late to her own funeral. Thankfully, as it turned out, she was at least two years late. 

Teri was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Ken Surby; and her sister, Dianne Fischer. 

She is survived by her husband, George, of Fairfield, Wash.; Ken's wife, Susan Surby, of Spokane; Dianne's husband, Tom Fischer, of Spokane Valley; daughter Kristy and Rob Winter, of Sagle, Idaho; daughter Lacey and John Braswell, of Walla Walla, Wash.; son Brody and Jenn Quiggle, of Fairfield, Wash.; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; and her lifelong friend, Lynne Brawley-Burkwist, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Teri's remains will be interred at the Fairfield Cemetery in Washington state. In memory of Teri's time on this earth, hug your family and friends as often as possible, and tell them how much you love them.