Terry E Myres

Terry Elton Myres, 73, passed away peacefully at the home he built with his own hands on June 26, 2026, in Moberly, Missouri, with the love of his life by his side. The home he created became a gathering place for family, laughter, stories, and memories that will live on for generations.

Terry was born on September 5, 1952, in Kennett, Missouri, to Elton and Catherine (Johnson) Myres. He graduated from Kennett High School in 1971 and, during that same weekend, answered the call to serve his country by entering the United States Air Force. From 1971 to 1975, he proudly served as a mechanic, spending much of his military service in Guam during the Vietnam War, attaining the rank of sergeant.

After his service, Terry moved to Moberly, Missouri, to be near his brother and begin building his future. He worked at Skelly's, a local one-stop shop that combined auto repair, a gas station, and a restaurant. A third-degree black belt, Terry also taught karate and shared both discipline and confidence with his students. His commitment to service eventually led him to the Moberly Police Department, where he proudly wore the badge.

Following an injury involving a bull, Terry returned with his family to his hometown of Kennett, where his youngest daughter, Roni, was born. In 1986, the family settled permanently in Moberly, where Terry spent 26 years serving as a correctional officer at the Moberly Correctional Center until his retirement.

Faith was an important part of Terry's life. As a young teenager, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and was baptized alongside his brother at Southside Baptist Church in Kennett. He faithfully raised his family in church and spent many years teaching college-aged Sunday School students at North Park Baptist Church in Moberly. In 2007, he became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Moberly, where he remained a devoted member.

To know Terry was to know that there was always another story to tell. He had a gift for making people laugh, and conversations with him often became adventures filled with humor, wisdom, and unforgettable tales. He was an outdoorsman through and through—a survivalist, fisherman, hunter, gardener, camper, and forager who found joy in God's creation.

His family often says that “almost everything we ate, he either grew, caught, or collected himself.” He loved working the soil, carving his own fishing lures, and sharing his knowledge of the outdoors with those he loved. During the 1990s, he enjoyed fishing bass tournaments with close friends, winning trophies and creating memories with companions who have gone before him and who surely had fishing stories waiting to share.

Terry also enjoyed playing chess, collecting rare marbles and coins, and making music. He played guitar and fiddle and seemed able to pick up almost any instrument and teach himself to play. He enjoyed watching Gunsmoke, listening to music, and spending quiet moments doing the things he loved.

But above all else, Terry loved his family. Nothing brought him greater joy than having his loved ones gathered together. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather whose love and influence will continue through the generations he leaves behind.

He is survived by his beloved wife of the home, Carol Sue Riley, whom he married on October 24, 1980, in Moberly, Missouri. He always said he hit the jackpot and was the “luckiest man alive for gaining an entire family at once” with Carol and her two daughters. He is also survived by his uncle, Elgin David (Athena) Johnson of Belvidere, Tennessee; his daughters, Rebecca (Jeff) McCracken of Moberly, Missouri; Cassandra (JR) Freels of Madison, Missouri; and Roni Ann (David) Wilkerson of Moberly, Missouri. He leaves behind his cherished grandchildren: Samantha R. Gorham, Austin J. Freels, Robert A. Gorham, Danielle M. Freels, and David “Davy” Elton Wilkerson; and his great-grandson, Spencer Freels.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his only brother, Ricky.

Though his stories have ended here on earth, those who knew Terry know that his laughter, wisdom, music, and love for the outdoors will continue to echo through the lives of those he loved. The man who could build a home, catch a fish, play a song, grow a garden, and tell a story leaves behind a legacy not measured in possessions, but in faith, family, and a life fully lived.

Services for Terry will be held on Thursday, July 2, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1049 County Road 2310, Moberly, Missouri, 65270, Visitation for Terry will begin at 9:30 a.m. on the same day and location. Burial will follow with full military honors at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery, Jacksonville, MO.