Terry Griffin

Teresa“Terry” Ann Griffin, 61, of Trimble, MO passed away at 9:45 p.m. on June 25,2018 at Liberty Hospital following an illness.

Terry Griffin, nee Holder, burst upon the world on June 11, 1957, in Clarksville, Tennessee, the daughter of Lonnie and Barbara Holder.  A few years after her birth, she acquired a new father, William L. Dennison, whom she was proud to call Dad throughout her entire life.  Sadly, both her biological father and her Dad preceded her in death.

Terry’s family eventually included older brother Lonnie E. Holder, Jr. (wife Sonnie), whom she affectionately called Junior her entire life, her younger sister Sandra Lee Holder (later Baumgartner), who preceded Terry in death, and youngest sibling Charles Dennison.  Terry, Junior, and Sandy were very close as children,often vexing their parents by (accidentally) causing various sorts of mayhem.  Even so, the children were at their best when together and when taking care of their youngest brother Charles, which they often did.

Terry traveled much, beginning as a toddler.  Terry’s wide-ranging travels took her to Hawaii before it was a state, Japan, where sister Sandy was born, Texas to Wisconsin, Colorado to Illinois, and many points in between.  Terry eventually returned to the Kansas City area, a city she called home for much of her childhood, settling into a home with her best friend and common law husband Ken Kerns in Trimble, Missouri.  Through all her travels, Terry always loved visiting her Dad on his 90 acre farm in northern Missouri.  Terry’s wanderlust continued in later life, and she and Ken had planned to travel the country in a few years.

Over the course of her life, Terry mothered children Justin Beam (Mollie), Stephanie Harkins, Katie Godfrey (Robert),Nicholas, Rocky, and Cole.  Sadly, Rocky and Cole preceded her in death.  One of the greatest of moments for Terry was meeting Justin and his amazing wife during her brief stay in the hospital.  Terry had last seen Justin in 1973, just before he was adopted by a loving family, and the reunion was amazing for Terry and for Justin, who became a fine man with a great family.  Though Terry and Justin had little time together, the time they had was time that Justin and Mollie will cherish.

Terry was an excellent student, highly intelligent, and had artistic talent, often held as an example to her siblings when she was very young.  Terry was also a people person with a big heart, well liked and loved by everyone she met and with whom she worked at Shamrock Food Mart in Smithville, MO.  Indeed,she was visited by many family and friends, including Vicky Deering and Gary Mcintosh, hoping that Terry would eventually return to work.

While Terry was preceded in death by her sons, grandparents, her fathers, and a sister, she leaves behind her common law husband Ken, two brothers, four children, at least nine grandchildren, and many more nieces, nephews, and cousins.  Before Terry moved on to the next life, she profoundly said, before her oldest brother arrived at the hospital from many miles away, that she would meet him on the dark side of the moon.  Terry’s entire family and her many friends hope that Terry is waiting for them on the dark side of the moon.

Celebration of Life:  7:00 p.m. Monday, July 2nd at Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, Smithville with visitation from 5:00-7:00 p.m.prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to American Cancer Society or your choice.