The last family owned funeral home in Thurston County.

Terry A. Harper, October 24, 1964 – January 20, 2022. Terry was the first of three children born on October 24, 1964, to Daryl D. Harper and Sheila P. Harper (Teske) in Seattle, Washington. After graduating from Olympia High School in 1982 he went on to attend Centralia College, cooking at Sea Galley Restaurant, and logging private pilot hours to fulfill his passion for planes and flying. His first solo flight took place on July 22, 1983. He continued to fly until 2002, his last flight was over Eugene Oregon. 

In 1985 he met his former wife Julie A. Tagman. They had three children: Megan M. Heinrich (Harper), Zackary J. Harper, and Riley A. Harper. Terry was passionate about attending his children’s softball, baseball, soccer, wrestling, and barrel racing events. On a whim in 1986 he saw an opportunity to test to become an Air Traffic Controller and took that test. Notified within the week that he had scored at the top 1% and offered an expedited opportunity into the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City. This launched a lengthy successful career with the Federal Aviation Administration in January of 1987 taking him from the FAA Facility in Ephrata, WA to Boeing Field, onto Eugene Oregon, and finally retiring from Seattle En Route Center with 27 years and 7 months of service with the FAA. 

After retiring in 2014 he liked to spend his time at Husky Football games, especially if they were playing the Oregon Ducks. If he was not attending his first Garth Brooks concert of the year it may have been his third Chris Stapleton concert of the year. He spoiled all of us a time or two with concerts, plays, Broadway shows, musicals, and football games. 

In 2017 he reconnected with Kristy Mantha; they had been neighbors in Eugene for 8 years and they wed October 20, 2018. His family grew that day by two daughters: Brittany Sewell, and Brianna Sewell. Terry and Kristy enjoyed adventures on the Oregon coast, Orcas Island, Montana, and Yellowstone.

Terry was enthusiastic about wood working, loved working on the computer and often combined these two to create beautiful gifts for his family. He was our go-to guy for all things computer-related and was the definition of patience with all of us. He loved to golf and play poker and enjoyed a good afternoon of Pokemon Go. Terry loved his family, and you would often find him in the center of mischief with his children, always laughing, smiling and up for any adventure. There was always music on, and you could count on a yes answer to watch a movie or all the Marvel movies. 

Terry is survived by his wife Kristy Harper (Mantha), daughter Megan Heinrich (Harper) married to Allen Heinrich, son Zackary Harper married to Hanna Chamness (Swanson), daughter Riley Harper; father Daryl Harper, mother Sheila Harper (Teske), brother David Harper, and sister Jennifer Harper. Grandchildren Jaxon Heinrich, Harper Heinrich, Emmaline Swanson-Chamness, Charlie Swanson-Harper, and numerous nieces and nephews. There will be a celebration of life on February 12, 2022, at the Yelm Community Center, 301 2nd St SE, Yelm from 1 – 3pm, please join his family in honoring this loving son, father, husband, brother, uncle, and friend. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity.