Obituaries

Agatha Watkins TerryAgatha Watkins Terry, 88 passed away peacefully of natural causes with her sons by her side, November 26, 2002 in Ventura where she had been living with her son Michael Terry.Agatha was born November 1, 1914 in Ashton, South Dakota. She was one of four children of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph E. Watkins. She attended local schools in Ashton, achieving perfect attendance up through Ashton High School. Mrs. Terry graduated with honors from Ashton high school in 1932, having been named valedictorian of her senior class. Mrs.Terry attended Spearfish Teacher’s College in Spearfish, South Dakota. In 1935 Agatha came to Santa Paula with her parents, 2 brothers Robert and Lee, and her younger sister Mary Rachel. After working in the Long Beach shipyards, she started a pre school-nursery school in 1941 at Mary Lee Watkins home at 701 Virginia Terrace. Mary Lee, a concert pianist was teaching piano while Agatha taught and ran the nursery school for working mothers during W.W.II.In 1944 Agatha was hired by the Santa Paula elementary school district as a 1st grade teacher in room 1 at McKevett elementary school. Mary Lee Watkins continued the nursery school until 1970. Mrs. Terry taught 35 devoted years at McKevett School. The first 25 years at the first grade level and the last 10 years at the kindergarten level, retiring in 1979. The local school administrators sighed a sigh of relief, (she always thought) for Mrs. Terry had actively represented the elementary teachers in many salary negotiations with the school district over the years. For the next 15 years Mrs. Terry ‘managed’ her son Michael’s’ photography studio on main street. She enjoyed her time there seeing former students from years past as well as many friends that she had not seen for many years. Mrs. Terry earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara in June 1956, attending at night and during summers.Agatha married Major Raggio ‘Joe’ Terry USNR, in Santa Paula on September 6,1946. They had two sons, Donald Austin Terry, born 1947 and Michael Robert Terry, born 1953. Agatha Terry was a loving wife, mother, daughter, friend and a respected professional in the community and will be dearly missed by all who came through her life. “There is no failure except in no longer trying” was her philosophy. Agatha was preceded in death by her husband Major R. Terry in 1974. Agatha is survived by her two sons, Don and Michael Terry. They want to thank all who were her friends and colleagues who thought well of her and remember her. She was the greatest! Memorial services to be announced.In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Santa Paula library or the Santa Paula Historical Society in Agatha’s memory.Arrangements are under the direction of Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura.Glen “Reaf” Wear