Delbert Wilbur Terrill (Seymour)'s Obituary
Delbert Wilbur Terrill, the second of three sons of Louie Daniel and Mary Katherine (Cornelison) Terrill, departed his earthly life on Saturday, March 1, 2014, at Select Specialty Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of eighty-seven years, ten months and sixteen days.
Delbert was born on April 13, 1926, and raised until the age of seven in Fordland, Missouri. The Great Depression was on and the Terrill family travelled west to California, where they would live and work until 1939, when they relocated back to Webster County. Delbert attended some of his grammar school years in California, and went to Dillon School when they moved back to the area.
He attended the Nazarene Church in Dogwood, Missouri, where he would meet his future wife, Lorene Verebena Breedlove. They were married in 1944 and to this union ten children were born. They made a life and raised their family in the holler on Z Highway in rural Webster County. Delbert would bravely join the United States Navy in 1944 during World War II, but being a man with a family, he would be honorably discharged later that same year. Delbert and Lorene were married for 26 years until her untimely death in May of 1970.
Delbert continued to raise his children on the family homestead and would meet and marry Bessie Nadine Vaughn in June of 1971. Together they continued to build a life for their blended family of twelve and would be married for 42 years, until her tragic passing in January of this year.
In addition to his parents, Delbert was preceded in death by his wife and mother of his children, Lorene Verebena Terrill; his second wife, Nadine Vaughn Terrill; two brothers, Clifford Terrill and Willard Terrill; and grandson, Dewayne Terrill.
He leaves behind his ten children, Betty Belt; Freda Bookout and husband Jerry; Jack Terrill and wife Diana; Vickie Davis and husband Virgel; Rick Terrill; Becky Cantrell and husband Clarence; Steve Terrill and wife Maleta; Debbie Johnson and husband Bob; Reverend Mark Terrill and wife Sue; Donnie Terrill and wife Robbie – all of Seymour, Missouri; stepdaughter, Linda Knowles and husband Irvin, of Moore, Oklahoma; and stepson, Robert Parish, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; thirty-two grandchildren; seventy-four great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild; several nieces, nephews and extended family, and dear friends and neighbors.
A true woodsman, Delbert was happiest being outdoors. In his spare time, he enjoyed deer hunting and pond fishing. He appreciated Mother Nature and would wander the woods for hours. He was an independent logger and did some farming. Though a serious man by nature and not much for cutting-up, he had a huge heart and loved his children dearly.
Throughout his years, he would attend Countryside Church of the Nazarene in Norwood and The Nazarene Church of Seymour. He also enjoyed attending Wagner Community Church in rural Douglas County. Delbert was baptized by his son, Reverend Mark Terrill, in 1994, in Bryant Creek alongside his wife, Nadine, and several other family members.
Delbert Wilbur Terrill was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, a caring brother and a loyal friend and neighbor. He will be remembered as a hard-working man, a man who loved his family and a man of God. We celebrate Delbert’s life and accomplishments and the legacy he leaves behind. We will cherish every memory he created for us and treasure in our hearts every moment we spent with him. We will find peace and comfort in our hearts knowing that he is now with his Lord and Savior and those family members who have gone before him and we will see him again one day.
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