Terry W. Vowells, age 56, of Francisco, IN (formerly of Lawrence County, IL), passed away Sunday, September 13, 2015, at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Newburgh, IN. He was born April 28, 1959, in Rantoul, IL, the son of Larry Vowells and Donna (Whipkey) Vowells Lawless. He married Debbie Rinsch on August 27, 1977, and she survives.
Terry worked for Western & Southern Financial Group as a Financial Representative for 28 years.
Hard working, persistent, full of jokes and full-bellied laugh, Terry loved people and he was a story-teller at heart. His love for people and their stories will be told for generations by those he visited, be they elderly shut-ins, a hitch-hiker he picked up to minister to, a child at a vending machine he handed a quarter, his clients who he loved far more than his job required, or his family who knew that he always had their best interest at heart. His love of stories extended into his love of reading, watching movies, and traveling. He was ever questioning and admired the work of others. “There’s an art to everything,” he would say as he marveled at the world planting trees and making the world more beautiful. Terry enjoyed camping and traveling, but most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends
Terry was a member of Mackey Church of the Nazarene in Mackey, IN. He served as President of the Town Council in Francisco, IN.
Terry was preceded in death by his father, Larry Vowells.
Survivors include his wife, Debbie, of Francisco, IN; his mother Donna Lawless of Lawrenceville; two sons Rob (Jessica) Vowells of Flat Rock, IL and Michael (Nicki) Vowells of Mackey, IN; one daughter, Melissa (Brian) Wolff of St. Louis, MO; one brother, Matt (Kris) Lawless of Danvers, IL; two sisters, Debbie (Dave) Arnold of Lawrenceville and Shelly (Tony) Wagner of Virden, IL and eight grandchildren, Lane Vowells, Michaela Vowells, Macey Vowells, Lorien Vowells, Clayton Vowells, Anderson Wolff, Cora Wolff, and Duncan Wolff.
As he would pray, “May this circle be unbroken in this world and in the next.”
Visitation will be Thursday evening from 5:00 to 8:00 PM (CST) at Emmons-Macey & Steffey Funeral Home, 1303-12th Street, Lawrenceville, IL.
Funeral services will be 11:00 AM (CST) Friday at Mackey Church of the Nazarene in Mackey, IN. Following the church service, the family requests friends to gather at the church for a celebration meal.
Burial will take place later in the day at 4:00 PM (CST) Friday at Lawrenceville City Cemetery in Lawrenceville, IL.
Memorials may be made to Birds Free Methodist Church with envelopes available through the Emmons-Macey & Steffey Funeral Home.