James Terry

James Terry was born in Portales, New Mexico on December 29th, 1946, to David and Juanita Terry.  He moved home to Heaven on January 4, 2020 at his home. James was known as Jimmy to his family and to many others over the years as Pastor James.

He grew up at Bethel and graduated from Portales High School in 1965. He was a dairy farmer for much of his life, along side his dad and brothers at Floyd.  He had a passion for dairy life and sought out ways to increase milk production and to understand the science behind feeding cows a nutritious diet.  He loved planting season when he could get in the field and put seed in the planter.  The only time he was happier was cutting hay and seeing fields head high with feed.  

In his thirties, his second calling manifested.  He believed he was to pastor a non-denominational church in Portales and focus on sheep rather than cows.  

He and his wife Sharon pastored for years, and he never regretted leaving the farm.  He had a passion for helping kids and this manifested in him founding a Christian school.  He wanted an environment that was both Christian and academic for young people. The decades preceding his move to Heaven found him spending his energy working on facilities for training students.  

James didn’t have a lot of hobbies.  Mostly, he enjoyed praying while driving a tractor.  And, all tractors had to be a John Deere; it wasn’t open for negotiation.  He most enjoyed his family being near him and watching his six grandchildren grow up.  He was thrilled to watch their gifts and callings unfold.  

He is survived by his wife Sharon, his son Todd and wife Ginger and their children Brennyn, Aidan, and Tristan; his daughter Shalei and husband Mark and their children Kendra, Michael, Keaton and Kaylei.   He has two brothers - Charles Terry and Leland Terry of Floyd, NM. He has many cousins and other family members spread across the country.  He loved recounting stories of cousins growing up on neighboring farms.  He also had many fond memories of aunts and uncles and trips to Grandpa Terry’s cabin, or being at the sale barn with Papa Gray.  James is survived by his church family who he loved as his very own kinfolk.

He would want to be remembered as a man who believed in Jesus being the Son of God.  His greatest desire is everyone in his life to know Jesus, too.  

Join us on Saturday, January 18th, 2020, at 2:00 P.M. for his home-going celebration at Faith Triumphant Church.  Dress will be casual and all friends and family are invited.  In lieu of flowers, he’d rather folks help with his dream of Faith Triumphant Christian School’s vision of helping kids.  This can be done by a Go Fund Me page on Facebook or by mail to Faith Triumphant Christian School, 615 West 4th Street, Portales, NM 88130.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James Terry, please visit our floral store.