Terry Lawrence White Sr.

June 1, 1943 - September 5, 2019

    Terry, “slipped the surly bonds of earth,” (Magee Jr.) on Thursday, September 5, 2019, at the age of 76. Terry built and flew model airplanes with his dad Larry a beginning to his love for flight. He owned and flew his own Cessna plane for several years.

     Terry was born June 1, 1943, in Marshalltown, Iowa, to Lawrence and Clarice (Ludlow) White. Terry was an only child and grew up in the rural community in a house his parents designed and built. He enjoyed visiting his grandparents on their farms.

     Terry played football and clarinet in High School. At the age 16 Terry started working as a stocker for the local Smitty’s grocery store. Clyde Smith one of the owners saw Terry’s potential and offered Terry a position in management if he would move out to Arizona to help start a chain of Smitty’s Grocery Stores.

     Terry attended ASU for his degree in business administration and moved up to Vice President of Smitty’s under Tom Hickey. He enjoyed his work and loved his customers. Terry is credited for developing the idea of the gravity stack bins for soda bottles and cans used in businesses today all over the world.

     Terry was a lieutenant for the AZ Army National Guard, Scout Leader and Scout Master, Mud Bogging events, a School bus driver and a bow hunter. After retiring from Smitty’s for over 20 years the family moved north to the Prescott area. He then joined the Fry’s grocery team.

     Terry was preceded in death by his parents, stepfathers, George Marquis and Eugene Alsbaugh.

     Terry Sr. is survived by his former wife Carol (Cleckner) White; his son Terry I, his wife Heidi (Wilhelm) White with their children Morgan, T2, Dawson and Payson; his daughter Carie (White) Hughes, her husband, John Hughes and their daughter Bristol Macklee Hughes, numerous Cleckner relatives, cousins, nieces, nephews.

     Terry will be missed, but is now flying with Our Heavenly Father.

     Please join us for a Celebration Of Life at Cherry Creek Ranch Venue, 938 S. Foothill Drive, Dewey, Arizona, 86327, on Sunday, November 3, 2019. Open House: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. RSVP to Carie Hughes, 928-848-8717, cariehughes1@gmail.com.

Terry and wife