Obituary
Funeral services for Marlin Terry 82, of San Jon, NM will be held at 10:30 AM, Tues., Sept. 21, 2021 in the San Jon School Gymnasium with Clovis Gray officiating, assisted by Mr. Terry’s sons, Jeff and Kendall Terry. Burial will follow in the San Jon Cemetery with Payton Terry, Phillip Terry, Trent Crow, Charlie Morris, Robert Pruitt and Chester Bobbit serving as pallbearers. Gilbert Tellez, Justin Tucker, Guy Mitchell, Bill Byrd, Don McCoy, Donald Carter, Phil Wallin, Erick Rusk and Ben Gates along with all of his many friends will serve as honorary pallbearers. Mr. Terry’s family will receive guests at Wheeler Mortuary in Portales on Sunday afternoon from 3 to 5 PM. Mr. Terry will lie in state at the San Jon Gym on Tuesday morning from 9:00 AM until service time. Those desiring to make memorial contributions may make them to the International Towing Museum Survivor Fund at https://internationaltowingmuseum.org/survivor-fund/.
Marlin Wayne Terry was born May 29, 1939 in Portales, NM to the home of Irma Lorene (Traughber) and J. W. Terry and died Sept. 16, 2021 in Amarillo, TX. When he was 5 years old, the family moved to Seward, AK where they lived until the end of his 5th grade school year. They returned to Portales, and Marlin graduated from Portales High School in the class of 1957. In 1959, while he was on active Army Reserve duty at Fort Smith, AR he was married to Suzanne Martin. The couple had two sons together. He was later married to Deanna Williams and gained an additional step-family.
Marlin raised cotton in the Bethel community from 1960 until 1963. All three years he lost his crop to hail storms. In 1963, he was accepted to the New Mexico State Police Academy. He was stationed in Albuquerque from1966 until 1969. For a short time in 1969, he was stationed in Clovis, but later that same year was transferred to San Jon. When he left the State Police in 1970, he first worked for a local gas station and wrecker service. He later purchased the business, and established Terry Service Center which he operated for 51 years until his death.
Marlin loved to work, but he also enjoyed raising cattle. For more than 20 years, he served on the San Jon School Board, and held the distinction of having served longer than anyone in the history of the school. He was a member of the San Jon Baptist Church.
He is survived by his two sons and daughters-in-law, Jeff and Kim Terry of Amarillo, TX and Kendall and Jana Terry of Portales; a step-son, Gilbert Tellez of Tucumcari; seven grandchildren, Phillip Terry, Rana Terry-Crow and husband, Trent, Payton Terry & wife Callie, Ysidra Tellez, Ysidro Tellez & wife Gabby and Alimpia Tellez; serven great-grandchildren; his former wife, Suzanne Terry of Portales; two brothers, Gary Terry of Roseburg, OR and Kenny Terry of Lubbock, TX; a sister, Deati Tucker of Lubbock, TX; and his very special friend, Evelyn Gordon of San Jon. He was preceded in death by both of his parents.
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