Obituary: Margaret "Meg" Sweasy Terrell


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Margaret "Meg" Sweasy Terrell, 87, of Boise, Idaho, died of heart failure April 24, 2009 at Grace Assisted Living Memory Center, in Meridian, Idaho.

Meg was born May 1, 1921 in Red Wing, Minn. to Jesse Raymond Sweasy and Leta von der Sump Sweasy. After graduation from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota , in 1943, Meg became a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, stationed in San Francisco, where she met Robert "Tiger" Ridge Terrell, of Salt Lake City, Utah, a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. The Navy and the Army merged Sept. 8, 1944, and after the war, relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah where they lived happily throughout their married life. Their only argument through almost 51 years of marriage was during the annual Army-Navy football game.

Robert R. Terrell preceded his beloved wife in death Aug. 16, 1995. A son, William Barley Terrell, also preceded her in death Dec. 23, 1990, and brother William Dayton Sweasy in 1991.

Meg is survived by her two daughters, Katherine Terrell Tatro (John) of Carson City, and Margaret Terrell Parkins (Sam) of Boise, Idaho, and granddaughters Adrienne Jordan, Katherine Parkins and Amanda Parkins, step-grandsons Don and Nick Tatro, and many nieces and nephews.

In Salt Lake, Meg was involved passionately in many organizations and activities. She served as an elder at Wasatch Presbyterian Church, and loved singing tenor in the church choir, was a member of PEO, and Salt Lake Town Club. She served as President of the Women's Legislative Council and was always politically involved, especially fighting for the rights of people, from marching for civil rights in the early 60s, to being an advocate for equal rights for women. She loved the fact that a black man and a woman were competing for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in 2008! Meg was also an avid golfer at Hidden Valley Golf Course, and a wonderful tennis player at Salt Lake Tennis Club. Meg was a great bridge player, and was even able to play well with memory problems in her last years. Her health necessitated a move to Boise in 2001 to live by Margie, but her heart remained in Salt Lake where she was blessed by a wonderful life with Bob, her children, Kathy, Bill and Margie, and the best lifelong friends ever!

The family would like to especially thank Dr. Anne Poinier, and the absolutely terrific staff at Grace Assisted Living Memory Center, as well as Legacy Hospice, for surrounding Meg with so much love and care in her last years of life. Her tenacity, sense of humor and zest for life will be missed by all who knew her!

Private graveside services will be held at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah, where Meg will join Bob for eternity. Arrangements under the direction of Summers Funeral Homes, Ustick Chapel.