Virlayne Elizabeth (Cameron) Terry (1921-2017)

TERRY, CAMERON, BETTS, WILLIBY, BOCCELLA, LEE, HUISMAN, STENSLAND, ZOLLNER

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 4/1/2017 at 15:38:13

Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.

Virlayne Elizabeth Terry was born February 13, 1921 to Edward and Estella (Betts) Cameron in Menlo, Iowa. She had three siblings, Edward, Virjean, and Wayne. After graduating from Menlo High School, she attended the Iowa School of Beauty in Des Moines. While in school she met her future husband, Charles Dixon Terry, a student from the Iowa Barber School. Both practiced their trade until C. Dixon "Red" enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Long Island, N.Y. In 1943, Virlayne hopped the train to New York and traveled there to marry C. Dixon, the love of her life.

Following his discharge from service, the couple pursued their barber and beauty careers for a few years before returning to his hometown of Radcliffe, Iowa, to assist his father with the family farm. Thus began a lifetime of grain and dairy farming. It was there they raised four children, Jackie, Dixon, Betty Jo, and Jennifer, who are still amazed at how their mother could sew dresses for the girls, have fresh-baked cookies ready after school, drive the tractor to haul grain, and wash out the milk tank before milking the cows—all at the same time! In addition to all of this, Virlayne was an active church and community volunteer. She served as a 4-H leader, PTA chairman, UNICEF drive chairman, and along with her husband, a Democratic caucus organizer.

In 1982, she and her husband sold the family farm and moved to Greenfield to assist their son, Dixon, with his grain and dairy operation. Virlayne was a woman of faith and attributes that faith for seeing her through the sudden loss of her son, and the illness and death of her husband. She often commented about how much she missed her “two Dixons”.

After her husband’s death in 1993, Virlayne moved to Ames. She continued to be an active volunteer with Central Iowa RSVP, and also served for over 20 years as a volunteer receptionist for Heartland Senior Services. Above all, Virlayne loved her family and their get-togethers.

Virlayne passed away at 96 years of age on March 7, 2017 at Bethany Manor in Story City, Iowa.

Virlayne is survived by her children, Jackie (Roger) Williby of Ames, Betty (John) Boccella of Ames, Jennifer Terry (Dimitri Makedonsky) of Des Moines, and Linda Terry of Earlham; nine grandchildren, Chad Williby, Jon Williby, Michael Williby and Chris Williby (Lily Peterson), all of Ames, Willow Terry (Jason Zollner) of Bloomington, Minn., Dusky (Connie) Terry of Earlham, Jennifer (Kevin) Lee of Ames, Kate (Nick) Huisman of Iowa Falls, and Meredith Stensland of Marion; and four great-grandchildren, Cameron Terry, Mia Terry, Beckham Zollner, and Lincoln Lee.

Memorials to honor Virlayne’s life may be directed to Heartland Senior Services. Their website is listed below.

Virlayne always got great enjoyment out of her unique name and would proudly say that in her long life she had “never met another Virlayne.” She was truly one of a kind.

Adams Funeral Home in Ames is assisting the family with arrangements.

Service
Friday 10 Mar 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Adams Funeral Home and Cremation Service
502 Douglas Avenue
Ames, Iowa 50010

Graveside
Friday 10 Mar 2:00 PM
Greenfield Cemetery
2483 Highway 25
Greenfield, Iowa 50849
Time approximate - will confirm.

http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
 

Story Obituaries maintained by Mark Christian.
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