Payson, Utah – Alma Elmon Terry completed his earthly journey on January 16, 2025, at the Orem Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation facility in Orem, Utah.

Elmon was born February 27, 1937, to Alma Woods Terry and Helen Day in the living room of their home in Enterprise, Utah.  He was greeted by a big sister, Ondrea.  Later, two more siblings joined the family: Henry Kent and Julia Ann. Despite the effects of the Great Depression, which left the Terry family with very little cash, they raised a bountiful vegetable garden alongside many chickens, pigs, and milk cows. Their home was safe and warm, with plenty of food and love.

Elmon was a small-town boy and had a long list of chores to prove it. He milked the cows; fed the horses, pigs, and chickens; and tended the garden, while also paying frequent visits to the farm northeast of town.

In October of 1948 or 1949, 12-year-old Elmon was given the chore of ridding the garden of its dried and leftover vegetation.  Wanting to hurry the task along, he got a can of gasoline and proceeded to rake and burn.  He inadvertently poured gas on his jeans, catching them on fire.  Kids today are taught to stop, drop, and roll, but Elmon, in a panic, began to run in circles. Preston Robinson, a neighbor across the street, saw the flames and came running, grabbed an old quilt that had been covering tomatoes, caught Elmon, and smothered the fire.

Elmon's leg was badly burned just below the knee.  The town nurse came and applied some kind of burn salve. The next day, the pain was so great, and the leg looked so terrible that Elmon's parents took him 45 minutes away to the Cedar City Hospital.  Upon their arrival, an adamant Dr. Williams said, "We are not going to lose this boy's leg." Because of that doctor's determination, Elmon did not lose his leg; he spent most of his winter in the hospital, experiencing lots of pain and trauma.

As he got older, Elmon loved to fish at the Enterprise Reservoir and go deer hunting with his dad and friends.  After graduating from high school, he worked jobs on the farms in the Escalante area. Soon, an opportunity arose to work for a drilling company in the hills west of Enterprise. This would lead to a job that took him to Alaska. He loved seeing the world outside of his small town. Upon a visit home, he noticed a really cute girl across the street. Her name was Janet Fay Gardner. Janet had come to Enterprise to finish high school and live with her father and stepmother. Elmon fell crazy in love with her. The two were married on October 15, 1960, and made their home in the Salt Lake area.

Soon, three little boys arrived: Kelly, Clark, and John. During this time, Elmon, who had acquired training in the plumbing and pipe-fitting area of construction work, found it hard to earn a living and support his young family. The construction and building economics in Salt Lake in the early '60s were very different than today. He was often called off jobs by his union. Life did not go well, and he and Janet divorced. Elmon then settled in the Orem area and eventually married Joan Martin. They enjoyed several good years together, but Joan became ill with cancer. He cared for her with kindness and love until her passing. After a time, he met Jolene Hudson, and they were married. Elmon enjoyed being part of her big family. There were a lot of children, and life was good.

By now, Elmon's parents in Enterprise had aged.  They needed help, so Elmon and JoLene, along with the other Terry siblings, took their turn of one week every month to care for them.  They were a good team in their loving care of Mom and Dad.  As Elmon continues on his eternal journey, he will be blessed for his service and honoring his parents.

Aging, like many, has not been kind to Elmon and JoLene.  They have struggled. This fall it was discovered that Elmon had a bad infection in his leg and needed hospital care. He didn't want to see a doctor, but he finally agreed to go.  After receiving treatment for a couple of weeks Elmon was taken to Orem Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation. He arrived there in good spirits, thinking that he would recover enough to return home.

In December of 2024, he contracted pneumonia, suffered a fall, and did not want to eat or drink. Under these conditions, Elmon failed to thrive. After a few days of visiting with different family members and his wife and son, Kelly, he passed. Heavenly Father had other plans where his home would be. A mother, father, brother, family, and friends will welcome and greet him.  He will also have the opportunity to become acquainted with his son, Clark.

Elmon is preceded in death by his parents, Alma Woods Terry and Helen Day; son, Clark Kubota; and brother, Henry Kent Terry.   He is survived by his wife, JoLene Hudson Terry; sons: Kelly Kubota and John Henry Kubota; stepchildren: Bob, Johnathan, Brandon, and Bonnie; many step grandchildren; and sisters: Helen Ondrea Turnbeaugh and Julia Ann Hurst.

Graveside services will be held Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Enterprise City Cemetery, 501 East 100 North, Enterprise, Utah.

Alma Terry Service Program