A Legend Goes Home

For those of us that have been in ministry for many years in Abilene and the surrounding areas there is a name that stirs up great memories deep within our soul. H.B. Terry, a man that was and still remains an incredible influence on my life went home this week to be with His Maker. This past July, H.B. came out of retirement as a funeral director to help with burying my Unkie. His words that he shared with me that day, I'll never forget. He said, "Brother Chad I came out of retirement because I wanted to be the one to take your Unkie home. H.B. lived his life as a beautiful example of what it means to follow Christ, there is no doubt that there are thousands upon thousands that have a home in Heaven as a result of his service to God. Brother H.B.,thank you for inspiring all of us that came behind you to do all we can to be obedient to the call of Christ.

Reverend H.B. Terry Jr
Abilene

Homer Brown Terry, Jr., 84, died Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at Hendrick Medical Center.
Born in Trent, Texas on May 24, 1927, he was the son of Jeffie A. (Howell) and Homer Brown Terry, Sr., and in 1929 moved from Trent with his parents to Baird, Texas to a farmhouse only a few miles from Clyde. At seven years of age he began first grade in Baird Public Schools, and in 1939 began the sixth grade in Clyde Public Schools, graduating from Clyde High School in 1945.
As a boy he worked with his Daddy on the farm, and in 1941 began working for Pyeatt's Grocery in Clyde during his high school days, and later for Patterson Funeral Home and BBB Drug Store both in Clyde. In 1943 his family moved from the farm into Clyde where his parents had a laundry and his mother a dress shop, "The Rilla Frances Shop". His father died suddenly in 1945.
In 1945, H.B. joined the U. S. Navy and after training began his service as Seaman First Class in San Francisco and Portland, Oregon aboard a mine sweeper AM164 circling the Pacific from Guam, Okinawa, Hawaii, and other islands.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy, H.B. attended The Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science from 1946 to 1947. After graduation, he married his high school sweetheart, Elsie Faye Tarrant, on February 8, 1947 in the First United Methodist Church in Clyde, Texas.
He began working at Wylie Funeral Home in Baird in 1947 as a Licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director from 1947-1953.
On November 8, 1936, he was converted and baptized at nine years of age at First Baptist Church in Clyde. Having felt God calling him to preach at age seventeen, he surrendered his life to the gospel ministry of God on January 15, 1953 at a revival meeting at First Baptist Church in Baird. On August 30, 1953, H. B. was Licensed and Ordained as a Minister of the Gospel at the same church, Rev. Riley Fugitt being the pastor. He immediately enrolled at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene as a freshman and graduated with a B.S. Degree in 1958. He attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth from 1959-1961. During his years in HSU and the seminary, he pastored three Baptist Churches, Johnson's Chapel Baptist Church (Aspermont), Denton Valley (Clyde) and First Baptist Church, Tuscola.
The other two churches H.B. Terry served were Bethel Baptist Church in Eastland, and Temple Baptist Church (now Lytle South Baptist Church) for 17 years. After resigning as pastor there in 1982, he served as a part-time staff member of Visitation at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church in Abilene (1982-1983). During his ministry he held Gospel revival meetings in many churches over the Big Country area, and in Texas, New Mexico, Kansas and California. Since 1982, he had been a member and Deacon at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, where he also served as teacher of the Adult Men's Bible Class (The Master's Class) and usher, as well as on various committees at the church, including the Missions Committee and Finance Committee. He also served on the Pastor's Search Committee at Pioneer Drive when both Dr. George Gaston and Bro. Stan Allcorn were called to be pastor.
Over the years he also served on numerous boards and in other capacities - Board of Trustees at Hendrick Medical Center (20 years); Moderator of both Cisco Baptist Assn. and Abilene Baptist Assn.; Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas; and Board of Taylor County American Heart Assn. He also served as a Chaplain at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene.
Since 1969, he had been a member of Abilene Kiwanis Club, serving as chairman for Volunteers in the Annual Pancake Fund Drive and chairman of the Spiritual Aims Committee. H.B. was a Master Mason - member of Abilene Lodge #559, and a 32nd Degree Mason of Scottish Rites in Dallas.
H.B. had re-entered his funeral director career with John and JoAnn Hamil in 1983 at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Homes and had worked with Robert and Karla Hamil since they began The Hamil Family Funeral Home in May of 2005.
His parents and two sisters, Jean Higgs and Rilla Frances Mahoney preceded H.B. in death.
H.B. is survived by his wife of 64 years, Faye Tarrant Terry of Abilene; son, Homer Terry III of Lewisville; and grandson and wife, Ben and Annette Terry of Dallas. Survivors also include his brother-in-law, Hugh Tarrant of Amarillo; nieces and nephews, Cathy and Jim Smith, Becky and Duane Fox, David and Cindy Mahoney, Terry and Janice Higgs, Gary and Joyce Ann Higgs, Tommy Alan and Diane Higgs, Judy Tarrant Favor, Linda and Hugh Tarrant Jr., Melvin and Mary Ann Martin and Bobby Martin; cousins, R.W. and Dale Terry, Sue and Ted Getterman and Dene McLeod; and special family, Chuck and Cathy Wolf.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, December 16, at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church with Dr. Jeff Reid officiating, assisted by John Fanning and Gary Higgs. Interment will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Missions Department at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, 701 S. Pioneer Drive, Abilene, TX 79605.