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Terry at age 42 Terry in the 11th Grade
Terry Harper passed away on November 18, 2018 in Napa, California at the age of 73.
Terry was born in Paris, Texas, and soon after, his family moved to Napa. Before reaching high school, Terry had worked his way through almost the entire collection of novels at the Goodman Library. Terry was fiercely intelligent and a lifelong learner, but academia was not his calling.
After graduating from Napa High School, Terry joined his father, working at the C&H Sugar Refinery in Crockett. However, not long after, his spirit of adventure took him to San Francisco where he joined the ranks of the activists who marched for a better world. He was a feminist and a believer in the rights of all Americans.
Somewhat later, he found his passion -- restoring and selling antiques; an endeavor that took him all over the world. He was a passionate sports fan, a road-trip-stress-case, and a secret lover of kittens. He knew how to juggle, ride a unicycle, back up a trailer, and build a barn.
Terry is survived by his wife, Nancy Fisher, a son and two daughters. He also leaves behind two dogs and more cats than he knew about, because it is better to ask forgiveness than permission.
Instead of a funeral or memorial service, and at his request, Terry's life was celebrated at a birthday party in his honor on December 16, 2018. Friends and family gathered to join in the celebration by drinking Bud Light, by wearing denim-on-denim, and by having loud opinions on football players.
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Alvin 'Al' Hawkins III
It's been some years since talking to Terry, but I most remember he liked to laugh. He, as memory serves me, was driving truck in San Francisco when he decided to buy a Tractor and haul for himself. He bought another and another; had drivers and kinda went semi-retired. Now maybe none of the above is true, but that's what happens when we rely on 'as memory serves me' . . . I will miss not seeing Terry again as with so many, Al
Hubbard 'Hub' Gurnari
I met Terry in 1961. The first time I went to his house, I noticed a ton of books laying all around. I asked him, "Did you read all these?" What a dumb question his eyes said. He gave me 2 books to read: From Here to Eternity and The Catcher in the Rye. I've been an avid reader ever since. I can’t go to sleep at night without getting a couple of chapters read. Thanks Terry -- you literally enhanced my life in one brief moment.
Donald Stevenson
Terry Harper always seemed very bright. It makes sense that he read lots of books early on.
Donkey Don
Hubbard 'Hub' Gurnari
I could not make it to Terry’s memorial get together. I DID so want to relate a true story about he and I. In the 11th grade (I think), I used to write Terry’s excuse notes when he’d cut school. Terry’s reasoning was that if I wrote them ALL, there’d be no reason to question the hand writing. It worked -- except the last time I did this Terry told me he’d done this too many times and he was going to get caught for sure; so he asked me to write the absense excuse and say he was ill with EDUCITIS -- that’s right, SCHOOL SICKNESS. He knew the jig was up and wanted to have a little fun as long as he was going to be caught anyway. I wish I could have seen Mr. Fotinos’s face when he read it. Terry told me later Mr. Fotinos told him to come to the office after 1st period and see him; where he called him a wise-ass for the Educitis excuse. My very favorite memory of Terry . . .