Grandfather Jesse Wall Terry

Jesse Wall Terry, Sr.

My maternal grandfather, Jesse Wall Terry, also known as Grandpa Terry, was born on March 12, 1900, in Nebraska (likely Antelope County.) He died September 11, 1965; I was 14 years old. This wonderful man made a huge impression in my life. He was kind, gentle, hardworking, talented, creative and musical. In researching his life, I have learned so much about his family and those he touched with his love. Grandpa Terry, this page is dedicated to you. Love you so much!

Jesse Wall Terry

Lewis S. Terry

Lewis S. Terry

Grandpa Jesse Terry's parents were Great-grandfather, Elder Lewis "Lute" Sherman Terry and Great-grandmother, Harriet "Hattie" Elizabeth Curtis Terry.  They were married in 1883. Lewis S. Terry was a Church of Christ minister. There are numerous notations in the "Wauneta Breeze" newspaper for weddings and funerals that he conducted, both in Wauneta, NE and other nearby towns.

Great-grandmother Harriet "Hattie" Elizabeth Curtis Terry

Great-grandmother Hattie gave birth to 11 children between 1883 and 1908, nine who survived infancy.

Ora Nelson (1883-1981)
Edna Marion (1885-1955)
Minnie Ethel (1888-1946)
Paul Harlan (1890-1974)
Mark Twain (1893-1893)
Alice Pearl (1895-1969)
Harvey Edgar (1897-1963)
Jesse Wall (1900-1965)
Walter Scott (1902-1903)
Norman Glen (1905-1970)
Claude Burton (1908-1978)

Lewis & Harriet Terry, w/Paul Terry's twins in Wauneta, NE - Aug. 1926

Great-grandfather Lewis and Great-grandmother Hattie celebrated the births of many grandchildren over the years. Grandma Ruth and Grandpa Jesse Terry provided 3 of those grandchildren: "Junior," "Bill," and "Patty." The large extended family enjoyed vacation trips and travel in the Nebraska and Colorado area.

Jesse Wall Terry, baby "Junior" and Ruth Terry c. 1924

Grandpa Jesse Terry married Grandma Ruth Adell Nesmith, June 7, 1922. Their first son is our Uncle, Jesse Wall Terry, Jr., "Junior," who was born August 20, 1923. Uncle Jess passed away in September 2010, in Seattle, WA.

Jesse W. Terry and "Junior" c. 1924

This photo is of Grandpa Jesse Terry and his first born son, "Junior". Other photos in the series seem to show them visiting in Wauneta Nebraska, possibly to introduce baby "Junior" to his grandparents, Lewis and Hattie Terry, and grandparents, Frank and Nellie Nesmith, as well as great-grandparents, Charles and Mantie Bride and various other family members who lived nearby.

Jesse Wall Terry and "Junior" c. 1925

Notice the car off to the side yard. Grandpa Jesse Terry enjoyed driving and traveling around visiting family in Nebraska and Colorado.

Grandpa Jesse was an accomplished musician, playing saxophone, third from the left.

When my sisters and I would visit Grandpa Jesse and Grandma Ruth Terry in Seattle, we would ask Grandpa to please play for us on his saxophone. It was always a pleasure to hear him. He played "by ear," and was very talented.

Grandma Ruth, Mother Patty, Grandpa Jesse Terry c. 1938

Mother Patty and her Dad, Grandpa Terry c. 1939-1941

Our Mom, Patty Terry, with her Dad, our Grandpa Terry c. 1943-45

Jesse and Ruth Terry had three children:

Their first child, Jesse Wall Terry Jr., "Junior" was born in Hollywood, California in 1923.

Their second son, William Bertrand Terry, "Bill" was born in 1928, in Holyoke, CO. Bill and his wife Yvonne, were the parents of 4 children: Stephen, Susan, Linda and Mick.

Our mother, Patricia Terry, "Patty" was born August 2, 1931, Holyoke, CO. She was the third child and only daughter of Grandpa and Grandma Terry. One can imagine that she was the "little princess" in this loving family. Pat and Willie Lowe were the parents of 4 children: Cathy (me), Bobby, Linda and Terri.

I don't have a lot of photos of Grandpa between the birth of his first son and his third child, our mother Patty, growing up. As usually happens in families, one person is the family photographer, and that happened to be Grandpa Terry.

Grandpa was a proficient photographer

Ruth and Jesse Terry, c. 1940

Seattle - Grandpa, our dog Grannie, and baby Cathy (me) 1952

Grandpa and Grandma -1961, I photographed them.

Grandpa Terry enjoyed the outdoors. He was a hunter and loved fishing. On weekends he and Grandma would take drives out in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. They both enjoyed the beauty of the area where they lived.

Grandpa Terry was a painter by trade. At one time he had his own paint shop in Grants Pass, OR. When I was born he was working in downtown Seattle as a painter for displays in stores such as: Frederick & Nelson, Bon Marche, Nordstroms and others.

He was also a magician at fixing broken toys from the discards in the basements of those stores. Grandpa and Grandma's basement was a wonderland for grandchildren. Grandpa had constructed an entire HO train set, with mountains, tunnels, houses, flashing lights, bells and miniature people. Grandma had designed a child-size kitchen with table, chairs, dishes, and all the kitchen needs. Every granddaughter had a personal doll named after her, (I still have my "Cathy" doll) with clothing stitched by Grandma herself. There were books and games, pogo sticks, scooters, doll strollers, erector sets and much, much more. There was also a bedroom downstairs with three child-size beds for when the grandchildren came to visit.

Grandpa nicknamed my sisters and me, "Big, Middle and Little Pickle-Puss". He had a stiff mustache and often gave us whisker-kisses. 

At their house, the brass candy dish was always full with non-pareils. The bird feeder at the kitchen window was the  meeting place for all the neighbor birds. Mail was delivered through a slot in the wall. And there was a collection of board and card games in the buffet for grandchildren.

Beautiful childhood memories for grandchildren. I learned from Grandpa and Grandma Terry how to create them for my own grandchildren.