He was the youngest of four children, born in La Crescenta California on January 12, 1924 to Lester A. and Dorothy Louise Terry. He told us he knew he wanted to become a doctor at five years of age after saving the family dog from a poisoning the neighbors mistook as a rabies infection.
His family moved to Salt Lake City where his father began a business with the Governor of Utah developing an egg laying industry. During the Great Depression the family moved to Colorado where Douglas began his paper route at age 12 to help support his family, becoming valedictorian of his class in the process. They then moved to South Dakota and ultimately to Lincoln, Nebraska, the family homestead. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1942, attended the University of Nebraska and then transferred to the University of Texas at Austin where he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He earned a medical degree from The University of Texas Medical School in Galveston and graduated on June 10, 1949. There he was a member of Phi Chi Medical Fraternity. Dr. Terry completed his residency in internal medicine and later, a fellowship in Hematology at Georgetown University Hospital where he also earned a Masters in Anatomy in 1954. He was chief medical resident at Georgetown and attending physician at the VA Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. A veteran of WWII and the Korean War, Douglas served as medical officer and Lieutenant in the US Navy. He was a professor of Medicine at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and when Elinor became ill, they returned to Austin, Texas where he began his private practice. His studies of blood and arterial diseases were published many times. He was Chief of Medicine at Brackenridge Hospital, and head of the Blood Bank in Austin for many years.
Doug married Elinor Hilda Widen in 1947 and with her had two daughters, Catherine and Patti. He married Katheryne (Kitty) McDonald Martin Terry in 1960 and gained a son, Richard Wright Martin. In August 27, 1994 he married Doris Galvan Marroquin and gained 12 step-children.
He is preceded in death by his parents, brother and sisters, his wife Elinor, his wife Katheryne, his daughter Catherine, his grandsons Steven, Richard and James, and step-son, Paul. He is survived by his wife Doris Terry, his daughter Patti Terry Miller and husband Dan, son Rick Martin, and granddaughter Melissa Pobiega and husband Michael; grandson, Michael Terry Blevins, and great-grandchildren Alexander Wolf Martin, Joaquin Fox Martin, Ellen, Robert, and Catherine Pobiega. He is also survived by his 11 step-children, 40 step-grandchildren and 36 step-great grandchildren.
Douglas was a kind and compassionate soul. He was a man's man who recognized the value of a good handshake. And, at all times, he was in charge, sometimes a force to be reckoned with. He was a self-made, humble man with an insatiable passion for medicine and good food. Really good food..And of helping people. He saw Jesus Christ in everyone and treated everyone with compassion. He loved God and his faith never waned in the face of adversity. He was a primary caregiver to his young daughters, often taking them on his hospital rounds in the evening. He was a supportive son to his mother for the duration of her life. He was a loving step-father, husband, uncle, grandfather, father-in-law and friend.
Rest in Peace Daddy, Dougie, Doc, Granddaddy, Buckwheat, Papa Bear, Doctor Granddaddy, Doctor Doug and the great father.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 from 6:00 to 8:00pm with recitation of the rosary at 7:00pm, at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar, Austin, TX. Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, January 18, 2018 at 1:00pm at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 4311 Small Dr. Austin, TX. Interment will follow at Assumption Cemetery, 3650 S. IH 35 frontage road, Austin, TX.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Judes Children Hospital.
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