Terry Stinson, age 69, of Deer Park, Texas, passed away, unexpectedly, on November 24, 2023. Terry was born November 6, 1954, the third child, to Alva “Skip” and Beth Stinson in Texas City, Texas. He graduated from Texas City High School in 1973.
In 1974, Terry began his life-long career as a Process Control Engineer (or, more commonly referred to as, an Operator) at the Shell Oil Refinery, located in Deer Park, Texas. He worked at Shell for 40+ years before he retired March 15, 2015. A few years after graduating high school, Terry met the love of his life and married Rebecca “Becky” Leslie on May 3, 1980. They have two children, Jennifer and Todd. In December 1987, Terry received an Instrumentation of Technology Certificate from San Jacinto College and a year later, received his Associates of Arts Degree. In 1991, he received an invite to Phi Theta Kappa, the National Honor Society for junior colleges.
Terry enjoyed many hobbies and activities. When his children were younger, they enjoyed family camping trips, visiting state parks, and attending theme parks. Some of his favorite places were Georgia Stone Mountain Park and Devil’s Den. In later years, he enjoyed visits with Becky to the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Albuquerque and especially to Cape Canaveral, where they watched a beautiful space shuttle launch. While working at Shell, he enjoyed spending recreational time with his co-workers. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, scuba diving, cycling and relaxing while riding his Harley on Sunday mornings along the coast. With the Shell cycling team, he participated in events like the MS150. One of his lifelong hobbies was woodworking. Early on, he began making simple frames for Becky’s embroidery pieces and ultimately graduated to detailed intarsia pieces, which are simply breathtaking. Terry was also an excellent amateur photographer and he took the majority of the informal family pictures. In recent years, Terry slowed down a bit. His favorite activities seemed to shift and focus more on his grandchildren, Macayla, Sidney & Lucas. Their favorite memory is “Snow Cone Friday,” which began when his oldest grandchild, Macayla, was in kindergarten. Papa would pick her up from school on Friday’s and treat her to a snow cone. As Sidney and Lucas started school, they too became part of Snow Cone Friday tradition. He also enjoyed watching his grandkids compete and/or perform at their various events (dance, baseball, soccer, orchestra to name a few). He loved to spend time relaxing at home, watching Hallmark movies and supporting his local sports team, the Houston Astros and Houston Texans.
Terry was preceded in death by grandparents Charles and Ethel Jackson, aunt Marilyn Jackson, father Skip Stinson, brothers Kelly Stinson and Pat Stinson, in-laws Frank and Peggy Leslie and brother-in-law Dan Leslie.
He is survived by his loving wife Becky, daughter and son-in-law Scott and Jeni (Stinson) Bales and son and daughter-in-law Todd and Tori Stinson, grandchildren Macayla, Sidney and Lucas, mother Beth (Jackson) Stinson, sister and brother-in-law Jerry and Kristie (Stinson) Kleinhans sister-in-law Kim Stinson, sister-in-law Ann Stinson and uncle Dean Jackson. In addition to these close family members, Terry leaves behind an extended family on his wife’s side and several nieces and nephews on both sides of the family and many loyal life-long friends.
Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers for the Stinson family during this time. We are deeply saddened by this loss and appreciate your love and support.
An informal memorial gathering will be held Monday, December 11, 2023 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at Grand View Funeral Home, 8501 Spencer Highway, Pasadena, Texas 77505.
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