Obituary of Melvin Wyatt Terry

"Melvin W. terry, 84, formerly of Stebbins St, died Monday, January 12 at the Holyoke Soldier’s Home. Born and raised in Cooter, Missouri, Oct. 25, 1919, he moved to Belchertown in 1965. Mel served with the 94th Cavalry, 14th Armored Division in Europe during WWII. He transferred to the Air Force in 1948 and served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, serving the military until his retirement in 1975. He was a member of the American Legion, past commander of the VFW Post 8428 in Belchertown, and also a member of the Ware VFW Post 239. A communicant of St. Francis Church, Mel was a 3rd Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus, and also a member of the Lions Club. Mel worked for 19 years at the former Belchertown State School as an assistant unit director before retiring in 1983. Mel was also Past Deputy Sheriff of Hampshire County. In Belchertown he was the Past Deputy Director of Civil Defense, Past Assistant Graves Officer, and past member of the Belchertown Fair Committee. His wife of 40 years, Barbara (Medrek) Terry died in 1994. Mel will be deeply missed by his two daughter Debra-Ann Jackson and her husband, Charles of Ware and Mary L. Beaver Boisjolie and her husband Leonard of Belchertown, as well as his beloved nephews Fred Terry and his wife Carolyn of Eustis, FL and Buddy Wilson and his wife Sonia of Leander, TX, along with his 12 cherished grandchildren and two great granddaughters. Mel was predeceased by two brothers and four sisters. Funeral services will be Friday, January 16 at 9:15 a.m. from the Beers & Story Belchertown Funeral Home with a Mass at 10:00 am in St. Francis Church. Burial with military honors will follow in South Cemetery. Calling hours will be Thursday from 4 - 7 pm. Donations may be made in his memory to Willie Ross School for the Deaf, 32 Norway St., Longmeadow, 01106 or St. Francis Church Building Fund, 10 Park St, Belchertown, 01007. "