Terri Lee Wirth

A celebration of life for Terri Lee Wirth, 74, will be held at the Emmanuel Baptist Church, 282 W. 6th St., Coquille, Oregon, Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 1:00 p.m., with a reception following in the church social hall.

Terri was born on December 30, 1948, to parents, Robert T. and Leola L. (Zander) Judson Jr., at Salem Memorial Hospital in Salem, Oregon, and she passed away at her Coos River home, surrounded by family, on September 21, 2023.

Growing up with brother, Robert and sister, Lecia, summers kept her busy with watching after her siblings, babysitting others, and working hard in the strawberry and bean fields — all the while never complaining and always being patient. They spent many summer nights playing with the neighborhood kids, even after dark. She also volunteered her time at the hospital because helping others was a big part of her life. Even in her young life she instilled great qualities of selflessness, morality, spirituality and kindness, always wanting to do the right thing, regardless of the outcome.

She graduated from South Salem High School in 1967, going on to Oregon State University, where she met the love of her life, Pat Wirth. Terri and Pat were married on August 29, 1970, and they followed his engineering career until moving home in 1972 to the dairy ranch on Coos River where Pat grew up.

Soon after son, Scott was born and then daughter, Molly came along. Terri kept herself busy raising her young family while Pat started a logging venture with his dad which soon became Smith & Wirth Logging. She soon decided to follow her passion for nursing by taking courses and graduating from SWOCC’s nursing program in 1986. She went on to Bay Area Hospital working in orthopedics, and soon went on to serving the public at the Coos County Health Department. After 10 years there came a time when she decided to leave her job and stay home, helping with babysitting and care-taking for the grandchildren.

As she grew accustomed to the life on the farm, she came to believe it was the most “ideal” place to live… after all, there were long, stretching fields to the west filled with dairy cows and later beef cattle and the fantastic sunsets, tree-covered mountains surrounding the valley, a flowing river off in the distance (which a couple of times crept strikingly close to the house), and a long-existent elk herd, growing every year, would mosey around their house and the fields, not to mention the coyote calls often heard in the night.

Family meant everything to Terri. She always had such pride and joy in her children and grandchildren, you could hear it in her voice as she spoke of them.

She attended countless sporting events and even when her recent illness began to take over and she wasn’t able to go to the games, she anxiously awaited for Pat to come home with his report.

In their later years, Pat and Terri spent weeks at a time vacationing in Hawaii, it was one of her favorite places. Sometimes she would take vacations with her besties and Pat would stay behind keeping their home safe and sound. She also was involved with a Bunco group for several years, kept in touch with her sorority sisters, and most recently was attending a Bible study group with ladies from Emmanuel Baptist Church in Coquille.

Terri showed such bravery, courage and strength during her fight against her illness. Throughout everything she endured both mentally and physically, she continued to have great faith in our Lord. She held on to His words and promises, knowing her story wasn’t coming to an end, but that she was going to be lifted up to Him. Terri so looked forward to seeing her mom and dad again in Heaven, which gave her great comfort.

Terri is survived by her husband of 53 years, Pat Wirth; children, Scott and Julee Wirth with Ryan and Braden; and Molly and Jeff Messerle with Bo, Waylon and Belle; siblings, Robert and Kay Judson with Ryan, Joel, Gerad, Jordan and Reed; and Lecia and Kevin Neal with Grace and Addy; in-laws, Bart and Sue Wirth with Shari and Sandi; and Vonnie Major with Lane and Meghan; and numerous grand nieces and nephews. Her beautiful extended family also included her dearest friends, Mindy Deeter (who was with her through the end) and Diana Bussman.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Leola Judson; and in-laws, Ken and Betty Smith and Raleigh Wirth.

Anyone wishing to honor Terri with a memorial donation may do so by contributing to Emmanuel Baptist Church, 282 W. Sixth St, Coquille Oregon, 97423

Arrangements are under the direction of Coos Bay Chapel, (541) 267-3131 www.coosbayareafunerals.com.

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