Celestine “Tina” Terbush
November 12, 1929 – February 4, 2026

Celestine Diane Terbush was born to Mary and Antone Borges on November 12, 1929 in Arcata. Tina’s early years were spent at the ranch on the Arcata Bottoms with her older brother, Tony, and big sister, Mary. She attended Bay School and then Arcata High, where she graduated in 1947. That was when the family moved “into town” to the house built by her dad on 12th and P Street.

Always creative, Tina did the artwork for the high school paper, The Pepperbox. She also was a majorette, twirling her baton with the marching band, and hanging out with her friends Berlene and Eleanor. Her first job, after weeding the strawberries at the ranch back in the day, was at the Arcata Theater, where she took tickets and was an usherette. After her shift at the theater, her brother, Tony, would often pick her up, and they would go dancing with the big bands at the Muni. He was always looking after her.

Tina attended Humboldt College for a brief time, then went to work at the Bank of America in Arcata. That’s where she met the handsome Don Terbush, who was a journalism student at Humboldt. They dated for five years – date nights were Wednesdays and Saturdays. Rumor has it that Tina’s brother, Tony, finally took Don out and told him he better pop the question, or else! Tina and Don were married in August of 1954. Their first daughter, Merrie Dawn, was born in December of 1955, followed seven years later by Katherine, and two years after that, Don Jr.

Following her early years at the bank, Tina joined her mother running the Arcata Yardage Shelf, the first fabric store in Arcata. Tina was a talented seamstress and stitched many outfits for each of her children, as well as prom gowns and bridemaids dresses, vests and suits, and even quilts.

After the yardage shop closed, Tina went to work at Six Rivers Savings and Loans, first as a teller and then as a loan officer. During these years, she worked full time and still managed to be a homemaker, always having dinner on the table for the family. She was a cub scout den mother and was the editor of the Intercom, the newsletter at Sacred Heart Church.

Tina was raised in the Catholic Church and attended church faithfully. In the mid-1970s, she joined her oldest daughter going to Faith Center Foursquare Church. It was there she gave her heart to the Lord and was baptized. Soon the entire family made Faith Center their home church.

Tina’s faith defined her life. She prayed regularly for her family, friends, neighbors, and people she met. Her greatest desire which she expressed again recently was for her entire family to know Jesus, so everyone will be together again in eternity.

Tina went home to be with her Lord and Savior on February 4, 2026 in Eureka.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Merrie Dawn and David Enos, daughter, Katherine Shamp, and son and daughter-in-law, Don and Jennifer Terbush. Also, her grandchildren, Crystal Suarez and husband Ryan; Andrew Enos and wife Katie; Ben Enos; Christian Enos and wife, Devon; Kate Terbush; Jack Terbush; and great-grandchildren, Maxi Suarez, Avery Celestine Enos, and Margot and Charlotte Enos.

Special thanks and appreciation go to the kind and compassionate staff at St. Joseph Hospital.

We were blessed to have our mother for 96 years. ‘Only by the grace of God.’