Daniel G. Terry, 86, of Pevely died Oct. 31, 2024, at his home. Mr. Terry retired in 1992 after 33 years of teaching at Festus High School and Oakville Senior High School. His daily motto was “students are not an interruption to my day; they are my day.” He, along with his wife, served for 20 years as Child Evangelism Fellowship missionaries. He was devoted to his religion. He served as the men’s Sunday School Leader at Arnold First Baptist Church and music director at Hazelwood Baptist Church and Emmanuel Baptist Church. He enjoyed hours of reading, studying and sharing God’s word. He also was a master gardener and loved trains. Born Feb. 22, 1938, in St. Louis, he was the son of the late Beulah (Jones) and Alfred William Terry.
He is survived by his wife: Joan (Bruner) Terry; two daughters: Derinda (Todd) Schmidt of Festus and Rhonda (Tim) Stark of Goldsboro, N.C.; a sister: Ruth St. Clair of Kahoka; six grandchildren: Matthew (Meredith) Spezia, Mark (Amy) Spezia, Samantha (Billy) Smith, Aaron (Jessica) Schmidt, Derek (Mallory) Ballard and Brandon Schmidt; and 10 great-grandchildren: Mackenzie Spezia, Mikayla Spezia, Adelynn Spezia, Brayden Spezia, Carson Spezia, Emersyn Spezia, Adaline Smith, Jackson Smith, Eleanor Ballard and Carter Schmidt.
Visitation is scheduled for noon until funeral services at 1 p.m., Monday, Nov. 4, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus, officiated by Pastor Ray Frazier of Arnold First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Lakewood Park Cemetery in St. Louis County. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Samaritan’s Purse or College of the Ozarks. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.