Ester Newton Terry's Obituary
Esther Newton Terry of DeRidder, LA died August 14, 2007 at her North Danville, Vermont home. She was born September 30, 1908, in Kirbyville, Texas as the youngest of eight children of Francis Jefferson Newton and Emma Josephine Clark Newton.
Esther Newton (Mrs. R. L.) Terry was a descendant of the DuBose family and the Newton family, among the early settlers of Newton County Texas. She attended Merryville school and graduated from Merryville High School in 1926, tying as valedictorian of the class. She attended Northwestern, McNeese State University, Louisiana State University, and Arkansas State University. She obtained B.A. and M.A. degrees and did additional graduate work.
After classroom teaching for 35 years, Mrs. Terry was the first woman to be elected to the Beauregard Parish School Board. She was the first woman to be named Citizen of the year in DeRidder
After she retired from teaching, Mrs. Terry and her husband R. L. “Bill” Terry, opened a real estate office
Among many achievements, Mrs. Terry was instrumental in establishing the Beauregard Museum and served as Chair of the Board from the opening of the Museum on March 28, 1965 until 1995. As part of her work with the
Beauregard Preservation Association, an outgrowth of the Beauregard Museum Association she planned and presented a twenty-seven part public presentation on the history of Beauregard Parish. These videos were given to the Beauregard Parish Library and the Beauregard Parish Media Center to be viewed by citizens and students.
She was a charter member of the DeRidder Business and Professional Women’s Club, organized in 1933 and was Past State President of the Louisiana Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. She was a member of numerous civic and state organizations including the DAR, Louisiana Retired Teachers’ Association and the Eastern Star.
Mrs. Terry gave a lifetime of faithful service to the First United Methodist Church with long membership in the Mattie Lucius Cain Bible Class and then the Aldersgate Sunday School Class. She was a tireless worker on behalf of the Mattie Lucius Cain Prayer Garden.
One of the efforts of which Mrs. Terry was most proud was her participation in laying the groundwork, as State Legislation Chair for Louisiana Federation of Business and Professional Business Women, for the Louisiana State Legislature to pass the MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS, to the Congress of the United States asking for equal pay for women. She also served as chair of the committee that established the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women in 1964 and later was a member of the Commission.
Other commitments were to the American Cancer Board, Woodlawn Cemetery Association, the DAR, Louisiana tourism, the “Clean City” effort, and numerous other city, parish and state concerns.
For health reasons, in October 2003 at the age of 95, Mrs. Terry left her beloved Louisiana and moved to Vermont to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Susanne Terry and Stephen Parker.
She was predeceased by her husband in 1985 and is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Susanne Terry and Stephen Parker of Danville, VT; a granddaughter, Sarah Gowan of Drexel Hill, Pa and her partner, Bill Quern; a grandson, Lon Gowan and his wife, Julie Dolan of Sherman Oaks, CA, Sarah’s children Garrett and Emma, their stepsister Jordan, and their father Bill Sapsis; numerous nieces and nephews and their children; and dear friends Michael Franklin, Herb Horn, Howard and Marilyn Wagner, Dorothy Vickers, Willie Mae Malone, and hundreds of former students in whose lives she made a difference.
Arrangements are with Labby Funeral Home. Visiting hours will be in the Sanctuary of the First Methodist Church from 10 am until 2 pm on Tuesday, August 21. The funeral will be at 2 pm in the same location.
Donations in celebration of Mrs. Terry may be sent either to the First United Methodist Church, 406 West Shirley Street, DeRidder and designated Music, Prayer Garden, or General Fund.
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