Terry Lee Stocksdale

From the beginning of my life to the end of his life, Terry was an amazing brother to me. He was there holding my hand when I learned to walk, our mother said he was so excited for me to walk, because he was ready to play and have fun. We were inseparable. He was four years older than me, which meant he could do things ahead of me, but he never left me behind. For example, when we would go snow mobile riding, he always allowed me to tag along. When he started driving on the farm, I would frequently be in the seat next to him. (And trust me, he wasn’t even close to 16 yet). When he could drive to school, I no longer rode the school bus, because he always waited for me and took me with him. The list goes on and on… One Christmas I remember wanting a record player, somehow, he found out that Mom and Dad were not able to get this for me and he then used his saved money to buy one for me. It was my favorite Christmas gift I ever received as a child. And boy did we enjoy that record player.

Our mother, Blanche, babysat our cousins, Barry and Vicky and the four of us became the four amigos. We played continuously Monday through Friday. Many times, we made up our games. One time we were in our own Indianapolis 500 race as we made a track and raced cars around the farm property. Terry and Barry in one car, Vicky and Karen in another. Until somehow, we crashed (into each other), we do not really remember what happened next, but we just moved on to another game.

When Terry was 11 years old he became a Junior Fireman at Arcadia Volunteer Fire Company. This has given him the status of a 49 year LIFE MEMBER. Being part of the Arcadia Volunteer Fire Company was a big part of our family’s life. Our grandfather and father were firemen, and our mother and grandmother were part of the Ladies Auxiliary. I clearly remember the scanner going off in our house, the rustling of Terry and Arthur (the duo team) getting dressed, slamming the door shut behind them and hearing the truck flying out the driveway. Of course, when Terry could legally drive, he was making it out to the drivers’ seat first every time.

The fireman’s convention in Ocean City was our vacation destination.

In 1990 Terry became an Uncle with the birth of his first niece Kelly, but then Katelyn and Karley came along and he became an uncle to three, known to him as “the girls”. Here are some reflections from them:

As young children, we remember Uncle Terry as a gentle giant, with footsteps that matched Pap Pap’s and sounded like change jingling in pockets. He was special to have his own personal “dressing”(made without onions since he was not a fan of them) made for him by Grandmaw (and then our Mom) at each holiday meal, and he was right about the fact it was delicious without the oysters.

As teenagers, he gifted us with our first pair of Ugg boots and Vera Bradley bags, even though we are positive he didn’t know what they were. He had an ever so slight smile that never left his face when we were together.

As adults, he checked on “the girls” often from a distance, and recently “the little ones” since two great nieces were born. He made special trips to collect his Christmas cookies and critique our baking skills, even though he loved them the most.

To us, Uncle Terry was someone who appeared to be unchanged by life’s events and will be remembered for being authentically himself. When he walked in the room after some time spent apart, it felt as though we were kids again for just a split second, with his heavy boots, change jingling and smile. This was a special gift that will be deeply missed.

He married Darlene in 2000 and they just celebrated their 22nd Anniversary. Family gatherings were always celebrated with good food and great company which frequently included the fur babies. Bailey a cute little Maltipom and Terry were frequently seen together in the truck as they traveled around Hampstead. Bailey was his best friend- fur baby.

Terry loved to cook and he was delighted to make food for the Lippy Brothers Farms holiday events, our family gatherings or even recently for Kelly and Charlie when they came home with their newborn baby girl in December. You may not know this, but Terry even had a dream to some day own a little coffee shop so people would have a place to stop and share stories and be together. Oh yes, Terry really loved coffee.

Just like our father and grand father, farming became Terry’s lifelong occupation. He worked very hard to keep the family farm going and friends such as Jack would give him tremendous support. Lippy Brothers became his day job, while his own farm was his after work/weekend job. So almost 18 hours a day Terry was farming. I never heard him complain about the farming tasks themselves, he only complained about the weather, the price of equipment or supplies and how there wasn’t enough time in the day to get things done. He was one of the hardest working people I have ever known.

Terry was a friend to so many. I could never mention all the good things Terry would do for others with no need for recognition, he just liked giving and caring about others. For example, he may have plowed your driveway during a snowy event, he may have brought you tomatoes, corn or green beans. He may have waived to you every time he saw you, because he never forgot anyone. He may have said hello at 7-Eleven where he loved to get his cup of coffee every day and evening or at Weis markets where he knew everyone because of his frequent visits. He also liked to stay in touch, so many people can remember frequent calls and texts from Terry, as he was just checking to see how you were doing.

Terry, Thank you for being such a caring, kind, gentle soul while giving to your family and community. Thank you for working so hard and loving even harder. I will carry on the ripple effect of your unspoken love in my world every day starting with my cup of coffee, as I will be thinking of you. I believe God took one of the best, so very young. You have taught me that life is precious and to make each day count!

The family would like to take a moment to reflect on a song, “’God made a Farmer”.