Norvin "Shorty" Terry

Norvin “Shorty” Terry, formerly of West Liberty, Kentucky, departed this life at his home in Lexington, Kentucky, on Sunday, September 25, 2022, just five days short of his 84th birthday. He was born October 1, 1938, to Hazel Prater and Thornton Terry in a coal camp house on 700 Hill at Hardburly in Perry County, Kentucky. Shorty was the second of 14 children, and by necessity, he assumed the role of helper from his earliest memory. This was a role he filled comfortably for the rest of his days, not just to his family but to his many friends and the occasional stranger. He was as blessed with friends as he was with siblings. There are hundreds of Morgan Countians who say he helped them. His childhood nickname “Shorty” was often the only name anyone needed because everybody knew who you were talking about, and except for a few crooks that crossed him, everyone loved him. What wasn’t to love? He was witty, upbeat, positive, honest, plain-spoken, generous to a fault, loyal, humble and unassumingly smart. He was  the best father on the planet. Plus, he loved all dogs. Incidentally, his five-foot-eleven stature was not short, and the way he carried himself made him taller still.

Shorty was 18 years old In 1956 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served his country for eight years with an additional two years as a Reservist. Soon after enlistment, he earned his GED and marksman badge, became a lightweight boxer, and entered Paratrooper training because it came with “additional hazard pay,” or so he said. The truth was probably more that he loved a dangerous challenge. He often made jokes about jumping out of perfectly good airplanes. He excelled as a Paratrooper and soldier and rose to Specialist 5 with reconnaissance and combat missions in Lebanon, Syria, Panama, Laos, and Cambodia. The latter is especially notable because his mission under his command first documented the Killing Fields of the Khmer Rouge. As someone recently said, “He was a soldier’s soldier and a true hero.” It’s true.

Most of his missions were launched from Augsburg, Germany, where he was first with the 11th Airborne, followed briefly by the 101st Airborne, and finally the 82nd Airborne. On February 2, 1963, fortuitously known as Groundhog Day, Shorty was united in marriage to Shirley Adams at the Glenn Avenue Church of God in West Liberty. The couple returned to Europe and lived at the U.S. Army Garrison in Schweinfurt, Germany. Two years later, they welcomed their only child Kopana. an event that urged a career change the following year.

Returning to civilian life in West Liberty, Shorty worked at Hutchinson’s Furniture before opening Fashion Furniture Mart in 1973. It was the first in a line of successful businesses during his life. That same year he and his wife Shirley, also a U.S. Army Veteran, joined the Morgan County DAV Chapter 132, where they served as life members, and remained active until 2019, when they moved to Lexington. Through the years, the pair served in a variety of roles. In particular, Shorty served as Senior Vice Commander and Chaplin. He was often called upon to speak at civic functions and funerals, but his favorite speaking engagements were those with the teenagers at Morgan County High School. He adored children of all ages.

The family spent four years in Tucson, Arizona, from 1975 to 1979 and returned once more to West Liberty when Shorty opened what would be his most successful business, Circle T Market. “Shorty’s,” as so many called it, became a staple of Morgan County life, not only for the affordable groceries and service on Sundays, the first West Liberty business to open on Sunday, but also for the social interactions, among them the trading of knives, guns, guitars, golf clubs, saddles, and anything else worth trading. When Shorty sold Circle T to his brother Danny, this social side effect helped launch his follow-up business, True Value Hardware. It was more a pawn shop than a hardware store, but it offered Shorty a well-deserved respite from years of non-stop work. Unfortunately, that break was cut short by a 1991 fire that destroyed several businesses along Main Street, including his. Always positive, Shorty quickly regrouped and became the courier at the Bank of the Mountains, a job ideally suited to his skill set: that of social butterfly with a firearm. CK, Vicki, Jodi, and Travis Stacy, along with the entire Bank of the Mountains staff, became his second family, and he stayed in their employment and care until health forced his retirement in 2015.

Naturally, Shorty was civically active in West Liberty. He sponsored many ball teams, supported school events and countless DAV functions, and he was quick to lend support and money to anyone that needed it, sometimes at the expense of his own needs. But this was built into his DNA, coming from a large family as he did where a sacrifice was an honour, not a heartache. Together with local historian Lynn Nickell, he led efforts to erect the Col. Harold Barber memorial on the courthouse square, the Vietnam Veterans memorial at Treadway Park, and the repair of the World War One Doughboy memorial after it was destroyed in the 2012 tornado. Along the way, he became a 32nd Degree Mason.

A long-time sportsman, Shorty was an avid fisherman in the 1980s, winning many a case of Vienna Sausage for his efforts. He was instrumental in starting the Headwaters Bass Club, and with Denzil and Ray Potter, he started Poor Boys Trap Shoot. Shorty was a loyal Christian and mountain philosopher. He spent many hours talking with God in the outdoors while hunting Ginseng. Nature was his cathedral. He was not a member of any particular church, but he was especially attached to the Glenn Avenue Church of God and the Old Regular Baptist Church at Caney.

Shorty was preceded in death by his parents, Hazel and Thornton Terry, brothers Ralph Paul (KIA Vietnam 1969), Randolph, James, and Gregory, one sister Linda, brother-in-laws Galen Ray Wilson, Roger Vest, and Ralph Keith, and sister-in-law Lucille Terry.

He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, Shirley Adams Terry, who, at great expense to her own well-being, selflessly nursed him through more health conundrums than anyone should have to face, and his fiercely devoted chip off the ‘ol block “favourite daughter” Kopana Lynn Terry both of Lexington, siblings Phillip Ray (Linda Gail) of Winchester, Mabel Keith of Sebring, Florida, Barbara Schirmer and Lois Nell Wilson of Lexington, Harold (Phyllis) of Catlettsburg, Darrell (Judy) of Flatwoods, Danny (Sherry) of West Liberty, and Charlene (Tony) Adkins of Lexington, sister-in-laws Janet Adams Vest of Campton, Marcie Terry of Stanton, Nila Terry Crouch (John) of Mt. Sterling, Virginia Terry of Winchester, Ohio, 23 nieces and nephews, loads of great and great great nieces and nephews, several first cousins particularly Eunice Ambrose (Johnny) of Hardburly, and Ana Elizabeth “Tomcat” Strong of Frankfort, and his adored “cinderella” caregiver of nearly three years Sheema Washington of Lexington. There are far too many close friends to list individually, but suffice it to say, they exist in spades.

Visitation will be held Friday, September 30, 2022, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Herald & Stewart & Halsey Funeral Home in West Liberty. The funeral service will commence at the funeral home at 1:00 pm on Saturday, October 1, 2022, led by Pastor Jeff Farmer of Glenn Avenue Church of God. Burial with full military honours by 1st Lt. Bazie Dulen, III and Morgan County DAV Chapter 132 will immediately at the West Liberty Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers are Kopana Terry, Jodi Stacy, Travis Stacy, Mike Moore, Eviyan Terry and Kevin Terry. Honorary pallbearers are Michael Terry, Jeffrey Terry, Ann Smith, Tamara Martin, Richard Terry, Tina Tkach, Renee Watkins, Jessica Stigall, Mark Keith, Mike Neal, Eddie Fisher, Lanelle Fisher, Melissa Moore, Bryan Terry, Lisa Terry, Brittany Perry, Jen Reynolds, Carrie Volz, Anastasia Mathis, Eric Steven Terry, and his limitless friends. After interment, a celebration of Shorty’s life will continue with food and fellowship at his brother Harold’s farm at Haney Branch near Stacy Fork. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Food will be provided by the Glenn Avenue Church of God and Bank of the Mountains. In the event of inclement weather, the fellowship will move to the Glenn Avenue Church of God.

Shorty was a champion of the underdog and a good Samaritan throughout his life. He gave anything he had to anyone in need. Let his good deeds and big heart inspire you to pay your blessings forward. In keeping with the way Shorty lived his life, instead of flowers, the family would be honored by donations to Bluegrass Care Navigators (Hospice of the Bluegrass), the Disabled American Veterans, or the Glenn Avenue Church of God.

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