Myrtle Florine (Gorsuch) Terry

Myrtle Florine Terry, 95, of Silvis, formerly of Moline, IL, passed away on August 6, 2016, at Aspen Rehabilitation and Health Care in Silvis.

Visitation will be from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 11, 2016, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., 6601 38th Avenue, Moline.  A funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home.  Burial will be at Rose Lawn Memorial Estates.  Memorials may be made to the Moline Activity Center.

Myrtle was born on June 18, 1921, in Littleton, IL, the daughter of James C. and Bertha Edna Bozard Gorsuch.  She grew up mainly on a farm west of Littleton and attended a one room Muley school through 8th grade and two years of Littleton High School before having to drop out of 10th grade due to illness.

She met and married Earl E. Terry, the son of Charlie E. and Lillian E. Riggle Terry.  They moved to Rock Island where Earl was hired by Deere and Company.  In 1942, they had a son, John William Terry, and then they moved to East Moline.  Their son, Harlin Eugene Terry, was born in 1944.  In about 1952, the family moved to Moline.

Myrtle was a homemaker for many years.  Her home was a gathering place for her children’s friends who never went away hungry, having eaten a lot of toasted cheese sandwiches.

Myrtle worked many jobs including Woolworths, Fresh Pak Candy, Clean Towel Service, and for eight years at Arlan’s Department Store as a cashier for which she won an excellence award.

When Myrtle could no longer work, she lived with her son, “Gene”, in his home and helped him with his rental properties.  After Gene’s illness made him sell the properties, Myrtle kept busy around the house with the garden and flowers.  Every Thursday she went to the Moline Activity Center to play Bingo and socialize.

As her health declined, Myrtle eventually had to go into a nursing home.  There, Myrtle continued to make friends and for a time tried to be a helper.  She was bright, cheerful, and well liked there.  The introduction of raised gardens was really enjoyable for her.  She was proud of her bush bean plant and would tell everyone about it.  She will be greatly missed.

Survivors include her son, John W. Terry; grandsons, Jonathan (Tracy) Terry and Michael (Meaghan) Terry; great grandchildren, Devan, Ethan, Owen, Aidan, Erin, Cheyenne and Ainslee; sister, Myrna (Richard) Powell; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl E. Terry; parents, James and Bertha Gorsuch; brother, Gerald Gorsuch; sister, Letha Hickman; son, Harlin “Gene” Terry and daughter-in-law, Jean M. Terry.

Memories may be shared at esterdahl.com.