It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Clyde Richard Terry, Jr., a lifelong resident of Humboldt County. During the very stormy month of February in 1938, he was born in Eureka. Clyde died on October 26, 2024 at his Eureka home surrounded by his family as he wished. Clyde’s parents, Clyde Sr. and Elizabeth, joked that his birth was very expensive since the weather only permitted his dad to work three days that month: the day his mom went into labor forcing her to take a taxi to the hospital, the day Clyde Jr. was delivered, and once again a taxi ride to bring Clyde Jr. and Elizabeth home from the hospital. His father joked Clyde’s birth cost double his wages for the month.

During Clyde’s 86 years he was a beloved baby brother, uncle, husband, girls’ dad, grandfather and great grandfather. Chances are if you shopped for groceries in Eureka or Arcata between 1954 and 1995, you were waited on by Clyde, the smiling grocer with the dark curly hair. People asked for his help in stores even after he retired.

Clyde loved animals which was fortunate since he put up with caring for horses for almost 40 years so his daughters and oldest grandson could each have a horse. He lost the last mare when his youngest grandson was 2 months old so he decided to share golf with Rique and insisted on buying his great-grandson, Donny, a junior set of golf clubs so they could play miniature golf. The cost was probably the same, but the upkeep was considerably easier. Clyde liked to keep busy in his retirement. He decided to turn the horse pasture into a park which gave him an excuse to buy tractors and tools. The park allowed his beloved dogs & grand dogs a wonderful place to roam and an excellent place for his great grandson to practice baseball. Clyde loved to play golf. One day at the Muni, a doe decided to climb into the golf cart with Clyde to share his banana. Clyde enjoyed sharing his 5 acres with the deer, even if they did eat more apples than he did.

It is with great gratitude that Clyde’s family will remember him. He was fiercely proud of his children, grandchildren and great grandson. His wife was very proud of him for saving the lives of three swimmers, a mother and daughter in our local river and a young boy in a motel pool.

Clyde is survived by his wife of 64 years, Josephine McBeth Terry; his two daughters Lela Razo (Sam) and Sheila Rhodes (Rob Lane); his two grandsons Allen Terry (Rachel) and Rique Razo; his great grandson, Donny Terry; his brother Eugene Terry (Katie); and his sister-in-law Judy George (Rick); as well as many nieces and nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his brother, Edward (Imogene); and his sister, Laura Schlenker (Louis); his parents Clyde Sr. and Elizabeth; and his in-laws Harold and Arkisi McBeth. He lost his neighbor and good friend, Michael Griffith, shortly before he passed.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to Dr. Shahram Abbassi, Dr. Tony Anagnostou, John and Rob McBeth, Sam and Rique Razo, Allen Terry, Jacob Woody, Rob Lane, Sophia from Home Health and our plumber, Isaac Kennedy.

Clyde wanted a celebration, not sadness!

Please join us for a celebration of life open house on Sunday, December 8th at Rob and Debbie McBeth’s Barn, 1123 Freshwater Road, Eureka, from 1-4 pm.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Clyde Terry Jr.’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.