Raymond "Dexter" Terry

Raymond "Dexter" Terry, 66, died Tuesday, January 12 at his home in La Grande following an extended illness.

A service was held at 10 a.m. Thursday, January 14 at Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center in La Grande.

Dexter was born in La Grande on December 4, 1943 to Lewis and May (Clark) Terry. He was raised and educated in La Grande schools. He began working for the La Grande Evening Observer while he was in high school and continued for a time after graduating with LHS class of 1963. He later attended Eastern Oregon College before transferring to North West Business School in Portland becoming a Junior Accountant.

Dexter worked as a billing supervisor later becoming office manager for a business in Portland. Later he worked as an office manager for a company in McMinnville. He returned to La Grande and cared for his mother for several years during which he worked in the EOU cafeteria until his eyesight and health failed. During his two year battle with progressively failing eyesight he began using a white cane so he could become comfortable with it. Following a procedure in 2003 he was rendered totally blind.

For over thirty years Dexter belonged to the Church of Christ in La Grande and McMinnville, where he served as bookkeeper. For the last eight years he attended the Grande Ronde Community Church in La Grande. He enjoyed hiking and travelling and said that his happiest times were when he lived in Portland.

Survivors include his mother May White of La Grande; brother, Virgil Terry of Long Beach, California; a niece and a nephew. He was preceded in death by his father in 1952 and his step-father, Melvin White in 1990.

In lieu of flowers contributions in memory of Dexter Terry may be made to the Society for the Blind in care of Daniels~Knopp at 1502 Seventh Street, La Grande, OR 97850.

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