Noel "Gene" E. Terrell

Noel Eugene “Gene” Terrell, beloved brother, father, grandfather and great grandfather passed away peacefully at his home on June 6, 2013 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was born in Grainfield, Kansas March 13, 1925, the oldest of three sons born to the late Walter F. and Fern I. Terrell.

Gene was inducted into the US Navy in 1943 and served during World War II aboard the USS Breese, a minesweeper. He fought battles in Okinawa, Iwo Jima, the Philippines and the Sea of Japan before being honorably discharged in March of 1946 with all of his service to his country given before he turned 21. Gene married Aileen Archibald in July of 1946 and moved to Colorado Springs where he worked hauling feed and grain for Simpson & Co. He went to work for the Rio Grande railroad late in 1950 selling tickets at the old Depot on Sierra Madre Street. When the US Air Force Academy opened, Gene went to work for the postal service as a mail carrier there and retired as the Superintendent of the Cadet Post Office in 1985.

Mr. Terrell was a 32nd Degree life member of the Scottish Rite of Free Masons, a life member of Naphtali Lodge #310 in Almena, Kansas and a life member of the Al Kaly Shriners of Pueblo, Colorado. He also served as Associate Guardian of Job’s Daughters Bethel #23 of Colorado Springs.

Gene was a lifelong learner, able to fix or build anything and everything. Family and friends were extremely important to him and many are the recipients of his beautiful woodworking pieces. He was gifted with a strong sense of discipline, an extraordinary sense of humor and would always do everything he could to help his friends and family.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory his youngest brother, Ray Terrell of Emporia, Kansas; daughters Sue (Ken) Morford of Divide and Mary (Keith) Briscoe of Fountain; precious grandchildren Kristin Morford, David (Kelly) Morford, Terrell Joel (Jill) Rarig and Cori (Bryan) Mennona; and two very dear great grandsons Connor and Bryson Morford plus a host of wonderful nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 65 years, Aileen, and his younger brother, Kenneth.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 1:00 PM at Swan Law Funeral Home, 501 N. Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs with burial to take place at Memorial Gardens, 3825 Airport Road, Colorado Springs. A reception for all family and friends will be held at Swan Law Funeral Home immediately following the burial.