Terry J. Bridges' Obituary
CHARLESTON, IL - Terry Jean Bridges, age 64 of Charleston, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 3, 2014, at her home with her loving family surrounding her. She will be sadly missed by all who love her. Her family will host a memorial visitation in her honor on Thursday, November 6, 2014, from 4:00 - 6:30 p.m. at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston. Personal remembrances will be shared by family and friends from 6:30 - 7:00 p.m. The family requests casual attire. Inurnment will be in Cochran's Grove Cemetery (aka Ash Grove Cemetery) in Shelby County, Illinois at a later date. Memorials in her honor may be made to the American Cancer Society, or to the "Terry Bridges Memorial Fund" . Monies in this fund will be used at the family's discretion to purchase items for the wonderful workers and/or patients at the Sarah Bush Lincoln Cancer Center in Mattoon, Illinois. Gifts may be left on the memorial table at the visitation or may be mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL 61920. Terry was born on March 3, 1950 in Vandalia, Illinois, a daughter of Edward and Patricia (McNutt) Brannon. When Terry was three years old, her mother married Clarence (Red) Walton, Jr., and she was raised in Vandalia by her mother and stepfather. She married Laurence Boyce in 1972, and they had two children, Patricia E. and Laurence E., Jr. (J.R.) Boyce. She later married Larry Bridges on January 14, 1984, and they were blessed to celebrate 30 years of a close and loving marriage. Terry graduated from Vandalia Community High School in 1968 and attended Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Education and later attained a Master's Degree as well. She taught Physical Education at the Charleston Middle School for over two decades before retiring in 2005. Terry's professional life was full of teaching, coaching, guiding, and collaboration with others. She will be fondly remembered by hundreds of her past students and her many colleagues. Terry loved participating in many activities; spending time outdoors in the summertime (especially mowing grass and weed-eating!); cleaning house; painting and decorating; hosting extended family holiday dinners; shopping with friends; taking trips to St. Louis; and spending treasured time with her swimming pool friends known as the "Pool Gang" . But most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family. She did countless things to make life easier and more enjoyable for those she loved. She was always working for the benefit of others and freely giving of her time and love. She especially adored her son J.R. and her two grandsons, Jaxon and Jace Boyce. Her most precious memories were made when she was with them. In addition to her husband, Larry Bridges of Charleston, her children, Tricia Boyce of Charleston and J.R. (Melissa Storm) Boyce of Lerna, Illinois, and her grandsons, Jaxon and Jace Boyce of Lerna; she is survived by her stepfather, Clarence (Red) Walton, Jr. of Mattoon; her sister Susan (Craig) Clendening of Lerna; a niece, Tiffany (Mark) Smith, two great-nephews, Ryan Drum and Andrew Smith, and a great niece, Kaela Drum, all of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Terry was preceded in death by her grandparents, her mother and biological father, many aunts and uncles, and a nephew.Click to view Terry's memorial video.
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