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In Loving Memory Of

Norman Terance DeGross

January 3rd, 1940 - May 13th, 2025

Obituary

My Father’s Watch

As I look down at the watch on my wrist, it is nothing to speak of. It is not expensive, it is just a Timex with a well-worn metal band, dents and all. Its face is scratched and beaten, yet everything about it works just as it should. I guess the marketing jingle was right after all. It is a tough watch that has seen many years, many joys and many trials.  

Terry was called home to be with the Lord on May 13, 2025. 
He is survived by: His wife, Charleen; his daughter Severin and her husband Ed Scott and their 4 children; his son Shane and his wife Jenn and their two sons, Colin and Wyatt. 

He is also survived by: His sister-in-law, Cheryl and her husband Steve Crockett; Cheryl’s son Justin Orton, and several nieces and nephews.

Terry was known for his sense of humor. He could light up a room with his infectious laugh. Born in Chehalis, Washington, Terry’s parents soon moved to Salkum, where he and his brother Denny spent most of their childhood. He later moved to Gold Beach, Oregon as his family followed the logging industry. He later moved to Del Norte County in California during his high-school years and lived much of his life near the Smith River in Hiouchi and Gasquet. 

My dad has been and continues to be an excellent example of sacrificial fatherhood. He owned Pacific Trailer Sales in Crescent City for many years. Dad loved running his business. I recall many times where my sister and I would go to work with him. We would play in the store for hours, pester his employees, and make ‘witches brew’ out of the stale cold coffee in the back and watch ‘Flipper’. He would entertain friends throughout the day as they would stop in for random parts for their RVs and always had time to help a friend. One friend, named ‘Milt’, a fellow recovering compatriot, would stop by at noon to play cribbage during lunch hours. Dad always had an open spot in his day for those that were also recovering. He gave his time freely with compassion and grace. 

Knowing that he needed to provide a more stable income for his family and provide an opportunity for Sev and I to go to college, he gave up his private enterprise to work for the Del Norte County Road Department grading the backroads of the county, from which he retired. His sacrifice of something he loved in order to support his children is emblematic of the heart of a father who wanted nothing more than to make sure his kids had a good chance in life.  

God has so richly blessed my dad. As I looked down at my father’s watch on my arm this morning, I was keenly reminded of those blessings, which I will briefly recount a few. God gifted my dad with a mother, Velma who loved Jesus with her whole heart, prayed without ceasing and instructed us to do the same. God gifted my dad with a wife who loves Christ dearly and loved him faithfully through good years and hard years. Her sacrificial and patient love for him and the rest of us is unmatched. God blessed my dad with a wonderful daughter and son-in-law who love God and serve others sacrificially. God blessed my dad with a son and daughter-in-law that delighted his heart, who also follow Christ. God blessed my dad with six grandchildren, all of whom are Christians, full of joy and love for others. God blessed my dad, before he was called home, with the news of a great grandchild due to arrive in the fall of 2025.  But the greatest blessing given by God to my dad was his salvation. Dad didn’t know Christ for much of his life, but God was faithful and brought him to repentance and faith in the last 25 years of his life.  Dad told me before he went home, that he felt that he didn’t run the race well, but I reminded him that he has a Savior that ran the race for him and that what matters most is that he finished well because of what Christ did for him. Dad was “excited to go home”.  

My prayer for my family immediate and extended, and anyone that reads this, is first to repent and believe the Gospel. Know that it is only Christ who saves you from God’s wrath, He paid your sin debt on the cross so that you can have life everlasting and right standing before Him. Second that we can live for those God has entrusted to us sacrificially and lovingly like my dad did for us.  So, I will wear this tired, scratched up old watch as a reminder.

The best thing I can do to honor him, and to glorify God is to love my family the way my father loved his. To teach them to follow Christ closely and run their race well for God’s glory. I wish I could have one more day in the duck blind with my dad, I would ask so many more questions about how to be a good father and husband. But until I see him again, I’ll continue to study the scratches and dents on this old watch to remember what my father has done for us and will ask God for the grace and grit to carry on so that one day I too can see my future grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family faithfully following Christ.

I look forward to seeing you in Heaven Dad, Love Shane.

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Prayers to all of Terry’s family . He was truly a gem! I always enjoyed visiting with him when I saw him. May your beautiful memories sustain you until you meet again . Laura Romero-Benson

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408 G Street,
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Phone: (707) 464-2011

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