Terry W. Chilton passed from this world into the arms of his Lord on January 18, 2016. He was born on January 6, 1949, in San Francisco, California, to Jack and Lorena Chilton. Terry is survived by his beloved wife, Carol Ann; sons, Johnny Thompson of Tildon, Texas, Curt Thompson of Dallas, Texas, and Jack Chilton of Round Rock, Texas; daughters, Alexandra Heyde-Ballengee and her husband, James, of Dallas, Texas and Tammy Hickman and her husband, Pat. Also surviving Terry were his beautiful, amazing, and adored grandchildren, Cameron (Pink Girl) Yoesel and her husband, Ben; Will Thompson; Aaron Thompson; Katelynn Ashabranner and her husband, Rob; Faith Thompson; Olivia Thompson; Lola Katherine Heyde; Gavin Heyde; and the Heyde children’s father, Brad; granddaughters, Hannah, Brooke and Grayson; grandson, Jack; brother, Roger Chilton of Port Aransas, Texas; sister, Sherry Grandchamp of Beaumont, Texas; his sweet mother-in-law, Marry Ellen Smith; and dear friend, Ed Curtis.
Terry was an amazing man who lived his life with such enthusiasm and his devotion to his family was un paralleled. His childhood and youth years were tough. At 14 years of age because of dire circumstances at home he moved into a tiny little four room house and worked mornings, evenings, and summers at various odd jobs at a restaurant, flagging in rice fields, and working the oil fields for four years, to pay his way through high school and put food on the table. He attended Hardin-Jefferson High School and graduated in 1967. Terry was a straight A student. During those high school years, Terry played basketball, football, and ran track. He set several track records at Hardin-Jefferson that still stand. Terry loved all sports and thrived on competition. He always put out his best, forever trying and persisting until he won, no matter how long it took. To stay in shape he would run all the way to high school and back every day, which was amazing because he had overcome polio as a baby. Terry was offered track scholarships at Lamar University and North Texas in Denton, he chose North Texas but after his freshman year he returned to Beaumont because of a severe leg injury.
Terry completed his education receiving a BBA from Lamar University in 1971, at that time he began his career at Republic National Life Insurance and by 1975 he had established his own agency. In 1973, Terry was named one of the Outstanding Young Men of America. He was the leading College Markets agent in the nation for ten years for all the companies for which he wrote and a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Round Table. Terry had the privilege of being the president of the Beaumont Association of Life Underwriters (1989-1990) and the great honor of being the president of the Texas Association of Life Underwriters as well as secretary/treasurer on the board of TALU. In addition to these important positions, he also served two terms (1989-1990, 1995-1996) as president of the Beaumont Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.
Terry had so many amazing talents; he always said “I can name that song in one note”. His knowledge of all popular music was incredible. He loved to sing and dance, and in high school he led the cast of “Bye Bye Birdie” as Conrad Birdie. His classmates all still remember that unforgettable production. He was a gun collector extraordinaire and at one time possessed the third largest luger collection in the world. He was a member of the South East Texas Gun and Hunting Club and hunted all over Texas for twenty years. In 2008, Terry and his brother in law Bill went to South Africa on a big game hunt and brought home many impressive trophies, including a world record Kudu.
In 1980, Terry met his devoted and beloved wife Carol Ann. It was love at first sight. They traveled the world together sometimes including children and grandchildren, finally deciding that Rome was their favorite city in the world. In 1991 their youngest child, Alexandra, left for USC to attend college and they became lonely for someone to care for, so the decided to start attending Lamar baseball games. Terry had been interested in sports forever, so this was right up his alley. It was an instant love affair. In 1989 Carol Ann and Terry had both accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and now they had a chance to share their personal love and the love of Christ with these young men. Many of the boys they were closest to were away from home and very lonely now the boys had “Texas Parents” and a man who kept the outdoor grill filled with food for them. There are so many friends who had a chance to enjoy Terry’s gourmet cooking. He took up serious cooking two years ago and he was a master.
In ending this very small portion of Terry’s story I would like to say as his wife, he was my East, my West, my North, and my South, my morning sun, and my Evening Sunset. Everyone will miss him but by the grace of God and sacrifice of Christ we can all be together in heaven.
A memorial service for Mr. Chilton will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 23, 2016, at Westgate Memorial Baptist Church, 6220 Westgate Drive, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard's, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. There will be a reception beginning at 1:00 p.m., Saturday prior to the service in the church hall.
Terry loved flowers so they would be much appreciated, but if your desire is a memorial contribution to your favorite charity, of course that is fine too.
