Terence James Page

Terence James Page was born on April 7th, 1937 in Tacoma, Washington. Known as “Terry” to his family and friends, he passed away on May 21, 2022 in Boise, Idaho.

If there is one theme in Terry’s life it is service: service to his family, to others, and above all to the Lord. Terry became a Christian in 1954, seven years after receiving a Gideon Bible at a kid’s camp in Copalis Beach, WA. Later, he reflected, “While not understood, since I did not attend church, a sense of having received a very important item ensued.” This “very important item” and the Christian faith it represents would deeply shape Terry’s life. His devotion to Christ was evident through his love for his wife and family, the deep sense of service he displayed throughout his career and beyond, as well as the generous grace he gave to others.

Terry spent his childhood in Nampa, Idaho, where he met the love of his life and fellow Nampa Christian High School Crusader, Carol Wion. They were married at Nampa First Church of the Nazarene in 1956. After graduating with a teaching degree from Northwest Nazarene College in 1963 he went to work in Melba, Idaho. He was the principal, bus driver, coach and Boys Scout leader.

He moved his family of seven to Hacienda Heights, CA in 1966. Mr. Page served as a sixth grade teacher at Kwis Elementary School for 30 years, during which he achieved a Master’s in Education from the University of Idaho (1975) and was recognized with honors by the Hacienda La Puente Teachers Association. His passion for teaching continued even after his retirement in 1998, after which he taught English in China. He continued to teach his grandchildren and great grandchildren until the very end of his life.

Terry loved to serve, whether it was staying after school to help struggling students or fulfilling one of his many volunteer roles. Each Christmas he played Santa Claus at his school as well as coached the Donkey basketball team. As a mentor in Campus Crusade for Christ he ministered to underprivileged youth by providing camping and water skiing experiences.

He served the community of Hacienda Heights as a treasurer in the Gideons International Organization and as a Volunteer Reserve Police Officer in South Pasadena (1976), in addition to doing missionary work through the Church of the Nazarene in Peru, Papua New Guinea, and Maui, HI. His love for service continued after retirement through Sowers International as well as continued work with Gideons.

No matter where he was, Terry was committed to serving his local church. Friends and family remember him doing everything from building the platform at the Rowland Heights Church of the Nazarene to towing water-skiing campers behind his boat at Victory Cove Nazarene Church Camp. He enjoyed singing in choirs and was frequently the narrator for Christmas plays.

Terry’s life was filled with adventure, whether he was watching for forest fires in the East Mountain Lookout in Cascade, ID, smuggling Bibles into Beijing, or sailing his catamaran around San Diego Bay and Long Beach. His son Brian remembers a 26 mile ski trip from Long Beach to Catalina Island, when they skied with the dolphins and ended up in a pod of whales! Terry created a zipline for his kids long before they were popular. He enjoyed hunting and backpacking in his younger days. He was an avid sailor, motorcyclist, and motor home enthusiast who loved to share his knowledge and expertise through storytelling. His children and grandchildren will always treasure time at the family cabin in McCall, ID playing games, fishing, boating and making countless other memories with Terry, Dad, Grandpa, or Papa.

The six life lessons Terry listed in his journal are a testament to his legacy of service and life of integrity:

1.     Not to speak quickly and without thinking

2.   Love others and respect them

3.   Respect your bosses and others in authority

4.   When irritated stop and cool down

5.    Be frugal

6.   God is able, just wait on his will

Terry is survived by his wife of 65 years, Carol Page; his children, Susan Finnegan (Michael), Brian Page (Melanie), Sharon Walker, Sandy McCutcheon (John),  Sharlene Mckinstry (Jeff) and Keiko Tanaka (Hiro); his grandchildren, Kristina Herald, Raelynn North (Mike), Jennifer Laird (Joe), Teri Walker, Tami Walker, Ashley Anguiano (Rene), Amber McCutcheon, Deanna Pittman (Uriah), Laura Makuya (John), and Aaron McKinstry; his great-grandchildren, Katelyn (Preston), Brie, Ayden, Lilly, Adreona, Wyatt, Theodore, Elijah, Marcus, Iris, Grayson, Christian, Noah, Chilobu, Teddy, Natalya; and the countless friends and lives Terry has touched throughout his lifetime. He is preceded in death by granddaughter Rebecca Finnegan.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 28th, 2022 at Five Mile Church of the Nazarene at 2701 South Five Mile Road, Boise, Idaho. Another service will be held in McCall, Idaho on July 7, 2022 at 7pm at the McCall Church of the Nazarene.

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