Terence "Terry" Jean McNutt

Terence "Terry" Jean (McCarty) McNutt, 91, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 31, 2014, in Sheridan, WY, following a long battle with several health issues including advanced osteoporosis. Her love of the Lord and His love for her were monumental comforts for her especially during the latter years of life. She leaves behind a family and long list of friends who will miss her love, her friendship, her counsel, her humor and her wisdom.

Terry was born on Sept.17, 1922 to Chester Arthur McCarty and Anna Carper-McCarty in Brule, Nebraska. She grew up on the family farm and after high school taught in a rural school nearby until she entered the Navy in 1943. She was the lone survivor of seven siblings including sister Treva and brothers Charlie, Bill, Joe, Jim, Gerald (Rick) and John.

Her immediate surviving family includes daughter, Treva (Cummings); and husband, Wayne of Casper; daughter, Tibbie (Kinner) and husband Mark of Sheridan. In addition, she will never be forgotten by the three people she bragged about most often...her three grandchildren, Colter Kinner, Karlie Kinner, and Cory Cummings. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews and their families.

Terry was preceded in death in 1990 by her husband, Robert J. (Jack) McNutt. The two had met at Chadron State Teacher's College after each had served their country in World War II; she as a Navy Wave and he as a fighting Marine in the South Pacific. They married on September 3, 1948, in Brule. Both graduated from Chadron State and spent their entire working lives serving the Wyoming public school system as both teachers and/or administrators. Along the way the family home included stops in Farson, Pinedale, Ten Sleep, Wamsutter, Lusk and Sundance. During those early years each earned their Master's Degree from the University of Wyoming.

Terry exhibited a passion for learning at an early age and excelled in the English language. She taught the subject for over 30 years and finished her career as school librarian. But retirement did not slow down her love of language. She penned and published a series of three books after retiring. The first was The Suitcase Files soon followed by The Suitcase Files II and The Suitcase Files III. This 3-volume set is a series of short stories, notes, poems and anecdotes written by Terry over the decades and kept tucked away in an old worn leather suitcase. Some of the stories are serious, some are comical but all are impactful often yielding some of life's best lessons and funniest outcomes.

Though a firm believer of tradition, Terry wished her passing to be a celebration of life and not a sorrowful event. Services will be held Thursday, April 3, 2014, at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, SD, where Terry will be interred with Jack.

A Requiem Mass was held at Holy Trinity Anglican Catholic Church in Sheridan.

Memorials may be made to the Jack and Terry McNutt Scholarship that was established in 1990 at Chadron State College, 1000 Main St., Chadron, NE, 69337.

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