John 'Jack' A. Terris, 83
John A. Terris “Jack,” 83, of Hayden, Idaho, peacefully passed away Dec. 2, 2024, at North Star Assisted Living, Coeur d'Alene, with his family lovingly by his side. He was born May 12, 1941, in Spokane, Wash., son of John W. and Donna M. (Bonner) Terris.
His cherished memory lives on with his nieces and nephew: Teresa (Alan), Lisa (Travis), Traci (Mike), Kevin (Jody); eight great-nieces and nephews; the Terris and Bonner families; and lifelong friends, Buck, Joy, Chip and Joan. John was predeceased by his beloved family: father and mother John and Donna Terris, and brothers Kevin A. and Keith V. Terris. He was also predeceased by his sister-in-law and friend, Paula R. Terris (Rogers), married to Kevin.
In Spokane, raised by loving parents, John was the eldest of three brothers who raced miniature cars, played practical jokes on each other and, when push came to shove, loved and protected each other like brothers do. In third grade, John began taking piano and organ lessons from the nuns at St. Aloysius School, where he dabbled with the family’s antique violin. In the mid-1950s, the Terris family moved from Spokane to Seattle, Wash., where John attended Roosevelt High School and became interested in drama. After the family moved back to Spokane, John finished his senior year at West Valley High School, Class of 1960. He went on to earn his bachelor's in music education from Eastern Washington University (EWU) in 1965, where he continued graduate work at EWU, the University of Idaho and the University of Wisconsin. With great dedication and devotion, he taught students in both band and orchestra in the Coeur d'Alene schools from 1965 until his retirement in 1998. During his tenure in Coeur d’Alene, John taught for 10 years at the elementary and junior high levels and completed his last 23 years as the band and orchestra director at Coeur d’Alene High School. Remarkably, John took 61 groups to band and orchestra festivals, receiving 59 superior and two excellent ratings between the years 1970 to 1998. As band director, his high school marching band placed “first” in the Spokane Lilac Parade 13 times, four of which were Grand Sweepstakes awards — the most prestigious award a band could win for this parade. The parade awards notwithstanding, what John valued most was the Coeur d’Alene High School Band’s annual invitation to the prestigious University of Idaho Concert Band Festival, where his groups were voted many times “Best Band of the Day” by the other participating band directors from around the Northwest. He also took great pride in the Coeur d’Alene High School Orchestra’s numerous “Superior” ratings at the Greater Spokane Allied Arts Festival. In 1987, John was chosen as Idaho’s “Music Teacher of the Year” and soon after was awarded the “Citation of Excellence” by the National BandMasters Association in 1988. Serving as District I president for the Idaho Music Educators Association (IMEA) in 1975 and again in the '90s, John was also the IMEA All-State Band organizing chairman, as well as a charter member of "The Idaho Order of the Platypus" at the All-State IMEA Music Conference in Rexburg, Idaho. From 1965 to 2004, John remained dedicated to music as a member of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC, currently NAfME). Additionally, John was a valued member of the National Band Association, American Guild of Organists, American String Teachers Association and North Idaho Retired Educators Association. As an outstanding music educator, John was known for his passionate temperament, perfectionistic traits, disciplined classrooms and strong work ethic, coupled with a dry sense of humor. Numerous of his students went on to become professional musicians, public school music teachers and college-level music professors. For his family and friends, there will remain a touching memory of John standing tall, marching side by side with his winning band during annual parade celebrations that left his nieces and nephews rolling in excitement and cheering their uncle on. This would always, regardless of marching etiquette, inspire John to break a smile … which then led him to a chuckle as he raised his hand ever so slightly to wave at his family as his band played on. In the Coeur d’Alene community, parade-goers and musicians have fond memories of John as the toga-dressed bass drummer in the “Perfection-Nots” in the annual Fourth of July parade. This band, formed in the mid-1970s by Larry Strobel and assisted by John, later developed into a group of over 100 crazily clad musicians, many of which were his former students. Others may have heard John adding his fiddling talents to dances at the Mica Grange.
In addition to his professional teaching, John’s other passion was serving as an organist at St. Thomas Catholic Church, Coeur d'Alene. Beginning in 1965, for over 50 years, he rarely missed a Sunday morning service to play the organ. Without hesitation, he also oversaw the care and maintenance of the pipe organ, thoughtfully donating his service and expertise to the church. During his last years, when long-time friends Chip, Joan, Buck and Joy took John for pleasant drives for a peaceful escape, John always asked to stop by the church and walk St. Thomas’ beautiful sanctuary. In keeping with his obsessive and driven personality, John impressively trained for and finished the Coeur d’Alene Triathlon several years in a row. John continued bike riding, where he and his brother, Kevin, pedaled 80 miles to Porcupine Bay for the annual Bonner Family Reunion one year. The pride of accomplishment on both their faces as they wheeled towards their family’s praises remains priceless. Spokane’s annual Bloomsday Run caught John’s interest and dedication, as well, which earned him the fastest in his age bracket at times; it meant a lot to John, but mostly to his brother, Kevin, and his son, Kevin John, who ran the race with him for many years.
John also took up baking for a time. He became inspired to build the perfect, homemade, double-layered cake and how tasty they were during many birthday celebrations! But what might be one of his family’s most cherished devotions was John’s fascination with researching family history. Pictures from long ago, whether on walls or found in an old dresser drawer, became a storytelling opportunity for John, ensuring his family stayed connected to their ancestors and culture, keeping their memory alive for future generations. John never missed a family event, whether it was in his new truck that he’d insisted had no impracticalities like a radio or air conditioning, on his top-of-the-line 10-speed bicycle or, toward the end, with his walker that had tennis balls for feet, he always showed up. He was noticeably well-mannered, which made it that more amusing when he’d subtly toss out a joke wittingly and with a straight face. He had a gift of bringing everyone in a room to laughter; his smile was contagious. His family called him Uncle Jack until he acquired the title "UJ." It was a term of endearment that stuck endearingly.
John passed Monday, and as he wished, was cremated shortly after at Yates Funeral Home. His remains will be interred in a crypt next to his beloved mother, Donna Terris, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Spokane. A service will take place at the St. Thomas Catholic Church, 919 E. Indiana Ave., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, at 1 p.m., where flowers will be accepted. Memorial contributions may be made to either church mentioned.
Please share your memories and stories of John on his online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.