Terry Peyton Applegate

Terry Applegate passed away softly and peacefully at his home, with his wife present, on January 20, 2023.

He was born on September 20, 1942, to Alan and LaVerta Applegate; the caboose to Ted, Tom and Sandra in Beardstown, Illinois. 

He attended Beardstown schools and following his graduation, he immediately left for San Diego to basic training in the Navy. He did tours in West Pac and the South Pacific. He was at Christmas Island during the nuclear testing. Just before his discharge he was assigned to a battleship that was going from San Francisco to Cuba during the Bay of Pigs Crisis; fortunately the crisis was averted and his discharge went through.

When he was on leave in Beardstown, before his second tour, he met a young, first-year music teacher at his former high school. When he returned after his discharge in 1962 they were married in December of 1963. 

Following his discharge he was laser focused on his education. He earned his Bachelors degree from Western Illinois State University in 1966, his masters from Kansas State University in 1968 and his PhD in educational psychology from the University of Utah in 1972.

He had his own company, Research and Development Consultants, Inc. He wrote and evaluated educational programs. His program on critical thinking and rational decision making was used in multiple school districts and institutions of higher learning in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Australia.

Terry was an avid reader, enjoyed choir concerts and other musical performances, fortunately, and watching sports. He was a Ute and Notre Dame football fan, liked the Jazz and a lifetime Cardinal fan.

Spending time with his family was his happy place. He was a loving and supportive husband and father and adoring grandfather.

He was preceded in death by his son, Brad. He leaves behind his heartbroken and grieving family: Anne, his wife of 59 years, his daughter Brandee, his son-in-law, Russell, their daughters, Amanda and Aimee Fox, his former daughter-in-law, Tina Applegate DeMayo and Brad and Tina’s son, William.

The family will be eternally grateful for the support and compassion they received from Leanna, his nurse, John, his CNA and many others who worked with CNS for the ten months he was on in home hospice.

A private remembrance and celebration of his life was held on January 30, 2023 at Starks Funeral Parlor.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Terry’s honor to the Alzheimer Foundation of America or the Humane Society of the United States.