Terry John Garlock came into the world August 7th,1953 and celebrated his 72nd birthday with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as he passed on to eternity on August 7th, 2025. His parents Virl and Alverna Garlock raised Terry and his siblings on the family farm near Brashear, Missouri breeding and selling prize winning Black Angus cattle and selling Pioneer seed. State and county fairs were a highlight of the farm year for the family and Terry devoted a good part of his life to promoting and improving the NEMO fair. It was there he met his future wife, Sheila Daniels, when he was “set up” by his future sister-in-law. Terry married his “cupcake” on May 27, 1990 in Kirksville Missouri, making her one of the happiest women in the world. She was
honored to be loved and supported by him in all of her endeavors.

Terry graduated from Adair County R-II Schools (Brashear) in 1971 where he was active in basketball and track. He often enjoyed visiting with classmates and other alumni and reminiscing about ”back when.”
Terry graduated from NMSU (now Truman State University) with a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Masters Degree in biology. He taught science at Knox County R-I for three years, where he enjoyed coaching girls basketball. He returned to his alma mater, Brashear Schools, where he taught science for one year. He enjoyed following the athletic teams, and keeping the clock for basketball games for several years.

Terry was employed by the US Postal Service, working as a city carrier in Edina, Memphis, and Kirksville for 35 years. He was a familiar sight to many patrons as he became the flex carrier in Kirksville, delivering mail to each route once a week. It was typical for Terry to walk over 10
miles a day, 5 to 6 days a week, retiring in 2021. After his retirement, Terry enjoyed truck patch farming on a small acreage south of Kirksville growing vegetables including sweet corn, green beans, garlic, pumpkins, and peppers. He enjoyed visiting with the community as he sold his produce at farmer’s markets, roadside stands and auctions.

Terry loved the time spent raising his three daughters, who were outstanding students, musicians and athletes at Kirksville High School. His support of the Kirksville Tigers basketball and volleyball teams was serious business as he followed the team, encouraged his girls, shot hoops and instilled a love of the game. His daughters were his pride and joy. He was proud of their accomplishments in high school and college, but even more proud of the wonderful, hard-working, strong Christian women (employees, wives, mothers and friends) they have become.

Terry embraced being a grandfather in 2018 with the birth of his first grandson Axton, who was all boy, swords, guns and tools and the like. He continued to enjoy his role as “Gampa Zouri” (Missouri) as the next six grandchildren arrived in as many years….Addyson, Kennedy, Hannalee, Elsie, Addilyn, and Brooks. Two more grandchildren on the way will hear stories of his love for his family.

His nieces and nephews loved the years of traveling together, particularly the downhill skiing adventures, roasting hotdogs and s’mores on bonfires, attending fairs, celebrating Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, or Christmas often at the Garlock household. Their recollections involve Terry always eating seconds and being the last to finish his meal, scolding anyone who tried to clear his plate before he was finished. In the best of fair traditions, Terry was a connoisseur of any fair food especially fried Oreos, chicken on a stick and funnel cakes. When it wasn’t fair season, he enjoyed pasta, chili, strawberry/rhubarb pie and just about everything else.

Terry was an easy guy to love, happy, upbeat, smiling, teasing, witty, quick to laugh, never demanding. He loved to talk to anybody and everybody about anything. He loved his time with the “guys” from the train club, whether eating breakfast at a fast food place, watching the trains come in at LaPlata or working on a layout. He enjoyed attending train or toy tractor shows with his nephew Jim, looking for unique items to add to their collections.

Terry was a man of many passions: agriculture, Angus cattle, Pioneer seed, county fairs, toy tractors, miniature trains, and gardening. He spent hours researching and becoming an “expert” in many of his interests, whether it was growing garlic or finding talent for the NEMO
fair.

Terry was an American patriot. He enjoyed American history, stayed up on current affairs and upheld the constitution. He loved America and the freedoms it was founded upon and the God who blessed our nation.

Terry followed in his dad and brother’s footsteps as he served on the NEMO fair board for many years. Terry was instrumental in the fair successfully going to a one price fair ticket. He was often seen cleaning up the grounds early in the morning or checking tickets at the gate late into the evening.

Terry was led to the Lord by his then pastor, Ray Olsen, during his courtship with his wife in 1989. Terry was a faithful, devoted member of Grace Community Bible Church. He was often seen checking the status of the soda pop supply, solving the world’s problems with the guys in the Sunday School class, or enjoying banter with fellow believers after the service. His presence will be sorely missed.

Terry was preceded in death by his parents Virl Barkley and Alverna Rosalia (Peters) Garlock, his brother Clyde, and his father-in-law, James (Jim) Daniels. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Sheila, and his daughters and their families: Emily and her husband Andrew Peterson and their children, Axton, Addyson, Kennedy, Hannalee, and Elsie of Webster City, Iowa; Natalie and her husband Austin Thomas, and their children Addilyn and Brooks of Bloomfield, Iowa; and Ashley and her husband Brett Stephens of Chillicothe, Missouri. Also surviving are his sister Anna Marie Newman and nephew, Jim Newman both of Kirksville, Missouri; his mother-in-law, Thelma (Baugher) Daniels; his sisters-in-law and husbands: Elaine (Jim) Schweizer, Karen (John) Tabb, and Christine (Jason) Wallace and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation is scheduled for Sunday, August 10, 2025 at the Travis Noe Funeral Home from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. A celebration of life service will be held at Grace Community Bible Church, 1501 East Northtown Road in Kirksville, MO on Monday, August 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM. Burial will be
in the Pratt Cemetery following the celebration. In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to be made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mid Missouri or Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa where he and Sheila and two of his daughters benefited from services, and may be left at Travis-Noe Funeral Home or Grace Community Bible Church, or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.