Delmer Dee Terry

To Delmer Dee Terry, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Delmer, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Delmer really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

His parents were Everett and Beatrice Terry. Delmer was raised in Fowler, California where his parents were farmworkers and he helped them and his siblings in the fields from age six. Even as a child, Delmer had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

Always a good playmate, Delmer was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Delmer managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Delmer was raised with seven siblings. He had five older sisters, Edith, Bertha, Irene, Marie and Margie Pearl, one older brother, William, and a twin brother Elmer.

All of Delmer's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Delmer experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in all sports. In his spare time he liked to play practical jokes all over town with a group of friends who all became known as "those boys".

Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you that Delmer was a class “cut-up.” He didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Delmer simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Delmer, grades may not have been the most important thing to him, but he really did enjoy his school experience. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Delmer excelled in all sports, especially boxing. As a sophomore he bested an upperclassman who was about to become a professional boxer.

Delmer never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Delmer to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Delmer delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Delmer was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. Delmer utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of his best friends were Homer Osborne, Eddie and Johnny Valdez and Ronald Guerra. Later in life, he became friends with Fred and Shirley Meine, Mike and Jean Bushell, and Kenny and Theresa Sandberg. Delmer loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Delmer very easy to approach. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason Delmer related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Delmer was blessed with one adopted child, daughter Margo. Delmer had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Delmer's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Delmer had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Delmer was a real “people person. ” he had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Delmer liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Delmer was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Delmer's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Delmer as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was tire recapping. He was employed for more than 20 years by Firestone and Goodyear where a modification he made to one machine became a company standard.

Delmer was an Navy veteran. He served aboard the USS Helena as she sailed the Pacific. Delmer saw action during the Korean Conflict.

Delmer enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Delmer liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were gardening, tinkering and mentoring youth. Delmer was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Delmer felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, Delmer loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Delmer relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Delmer never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. In high school, Delmer played football, basketball and ran track. Delmer was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were boxing and basketball, and he and his daughter loved to cheer for rival teams the Celtics and Lakers.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Delmer recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. He was a non-denominational Christian, though he never forgot his roots in the Pentecostal church his mother helped found in Fowler, California.

Living life in the fast lane suited Delmer just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included trips to Oregon for family reunions.

Delmer was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. One of Delmer's favorites was Daisy, a chocolate lab. His family was rounded out by his chocolate bob-tailed housecat, Mama.

Delmer believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in at the age of 65, Delmer took it in stride as one more way to have fun. His new life involved settling down on his ranch in Sanger, California. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Delmer remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, he found new pleasure in his vegetable garden and in helping his friends and neighbors with their farms and ranches. Even in retirement, Delmer continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

Delmer passed away on October 19, 2010 at Veterans Hospital in Fresno, California. He struggled with a weakened heart and kidneys and diseases of the lungs, but was never too ill or tired to charm all the pretty nurses. He is survived by his daughter Margo, his sisters Irene and Margie Pearl, and his twin brother Elmer. A beautiful visitation for friends and family was held at Tinkler Funeral Chapel & Crematory in Fresno, California. Delmer was cremated and, per his request, his remains were returned to his daughter.

Delmer brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Delmer Dee Terry lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.