Dana Scott Terry

March 8, 1942 - July 10, 2017

Dana Scott Terry 1942 - 2017 On March 8, 1942 the world welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Dana Sue Scott. Dana cherished family. Her parents Rita and Park Scott, along with her brother Jerry were the center of her universe. Dana loved to tell stories from her childhood and would relay each story so vividly you felt as if you were there. She always made one thing clear--how very much she loved her mom, her dad, and her big brother Jerry. Growing up in Springville, Utah, her parents taught her to read during kindergarten so she was able to skip the first grade. She read every book in the Springville library, some of them twice. Each week her mother gave her one dollar for allowance. And each week, Dana spent her dollar on a chocolate malt from the drug store, a Hershey Bar, and a movie. The Wizard of Oz was her favorite and she saw it every time it came to town. One time in particular, Rita made Jerry cancel a date to take his little sister to the drive-in to see The Wizard of Oz. Dana still chuckled about the look on Jerry's face when she popped up from the backseat and exclaimed, "This is my favorite movie. I've seen it at least ten times!" Dana's eyes lit up as she told stories about her high school years--years filled with lifelong friends, lots of giggling, talking on the party line, and boys. On January 31, 1959, she was talking to one boy in particular, Jon Terry. It was a snowy night and the two decided to take a drive. They drove and talked for hours. Dana went home and wrote in her diary that she thought really liked this one. Jon went home and told his parents he found the woman he wanted to marry. They graduated that Spring and married in the Fall of '59. Though their marriage lasted just 14 years, their love and respect for one another lasted a lifetime and together they welcomed three daughters into the world, Shayne, Regan, and Erin. From a very young age, Dana decided her main goal in life was to be a mom--the kind of mom Rita was. Dana once said, “All I ever wanted to be was a mother. That was my main thing. I loved my dolls and I looked forward to having children. Growing up, I thought a lot about being a parent.” Shayne was her first born. Mom picked Shayne’s name very carefully, saying, “I didn’t want my little girl to have a name every other little girl in town had. I wanted her to stand out. I wanted her to have a name people would remember.” So, she named her after Bob Shane one of the lead singers of her favorite band, The Kingston Trio. She added the “y” to make sure people knew it was a girl’s name. She called her “Shaynie” and on her last day with us, Mom asked “where is my little Shaynie? I need my Shaynie.” Shayne began listing all her favorite memories and realized there was a theme: Mom was “a listener, a comforter, creative, a hard worker, professional, and the prettiest mom in the subdivision.” Mom loved to laugh and remember the day she was cleaning house and overheard Shayne tell her friends, “My mom has ponytails in her hair so don’t laugh at her or hurt her feelings about the way she looks today.” Shayne admired the home Mom kept for the family, the carefully planned schedule, and the time she devoted to participating in Bluebirds and being a Room Mother. Shayne relishes the memories of Mom as a comforter--reading her a story every night before she tucked her in, going to Sunday School and getting ice cream afterward, learning to make pies for Thanksgiving, listening and comforting when Shayne needed her, and most importantly, teaching her how to be a mother. The gift was not in vain. Shayne, along with her husband John, gave their time, their home, and their hearts to care for Mom in her final years--and Mom was very very grateful. Once Shayne was old enough to go to preschool, Dana started working at Singer. Dana was underqualified for the position, but she had watched the ladies at Rita’s store operate a ten key pad on the registers, and figured it couldn’t be that difficult. On her first day at Singer, Dana watched all of the women entering data by touch on their ten keys and she thought, “What have I gotten myself into?” But, in typical Dana style, she quickly surpassed the other women and became manager. This was in the early 1960’s and the law dictated women could only work until their six month of pregnancy. That didn’t stop Dana. She worked into her seventh month of her second pregnancy before leaving Singer. Regan was born in August and it was record breaking heat that summer. Jon and Dana had just purchased their first home and had yet to install air conditioning. One might speculate she stayed at Singer for the air conditioning, but we are pretty sure it was because she was such a hard worker. Again, Mom wanted an original name for her daughter so she would stand out and be noticed. She was more mature, so rather than naming her second daughter after her favorite band, she found her name in the obituaries. She honored Regan with the middle name of her most respected person, her mother, Rita Jane. Mom often spoke about how much fun it was to raise Regan and called her “Sunshine.” They both loved to reminisce about Regan playing make believe, whether she was building trains out of the kitchen chairs or teaching Sunday School to her stuffed animals or pretending to walk down the aisle with the stuffed animals perched on the chairs as wedding guests. Mom’s favorite story was the time she put Regan in her room for a time out and began vacuuming. The doorbell rang. There was Regan at the front door, having fallen out of her bedroom window while talking with the neighbor. Mom laughed with Regan throughout her life. Regan says, “She was my best friend. We know that.” Mom and Regan enjoyed countless trips to Wendover, as well as many road trips to California, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Regan reminisces, “We worked together, we lived together, we played together, we did everything together.” For years, friends and coworkers knew that where Dana was, Regan would be there as well. Regan describes Mom as proud, professional, committed, doting, and most importantly a friend. Whether she was cheering Regan on for learning to ride her bike without training wheels or bragging about Regan’s quick rise to management, Mom always made Regan feel capable and accomplished. On their last visit, Mom and Regan looked through pictures together and laughed and laughed and laughed. Mom loved Regan and Regan loved Mom, evidenced by their ability to pick up right where they left off, no matter how much time had passed. Dana went back to work when Regan was old enough for preschool. Dana started as a part-time tax preparer at a new accounting concept called “H&R Block.” In Dana style, she quickly rose to the top, teaching H&R Block’s first tax training schools in addition to opening and managing multiple branch offices as H&R Block grew in Salt Lake County. Tax preparation remained a passion for Dana, she continued to prepare taxes until her final year. Family and friends knew very well it was never okay to have an emergency or a baby during tax season. Dana scheduled her third daughter to be born well before tax season, as to not interfere. Erin had a different idea and decided to be born on January 31, a critical tax deadline. This did not stop Dana, who worked late on the 30th, knowing she was in labor. She came home, settled the older girls, and went to the hospital to give birth first thing in the morning. In keeping with tax season, Dana found Erin’s name on a tax return, then chose a middle name in honor of a special cousin and spiritual leader, Michele. Erin’s birth was not without trauma and Mom was warned her new baby may be “delayed.” At just a few days old, she held Erin for the first time. The phone rang loudly, startling both of them. Erin looked at the phone, then looked back at Mom to let her know she was annoyed, then cried. Mom knew in that moment the doctors were wrong and her prayerful work prevailed. She nicknamed her third daughter, “Angel.” Mom often commented that Erin was an old soul. The two had a special connection and words were not always necessary. Mom remarked that she and Erin would be in the car in silence and Erin would pipe up from her car seat with advice or input about the things Mom was thinking, but had not said. On Mom’s last visit to the hospital, the doctors urged the family to make final arrangements as they did not anticipate Mom would be coming home. Erin sat quietly with her one night, and took her hand as she gently said, “Mom, you know how you always trusted my intuition?” Mom nodded yes. Tearfully, Erin said, “I don’t think this is it. I think we have more time.” Mom replied, “I know sweetheart.” Mom was with us seven more months. Erin spent a lot of time with Mom and cherishes memories of laughing until they cried, hours of card games and board games, late night talks that included childhood stories and words of wisdom that were inevitably the exact words Erin needed to know. Erin strived to make Mom proud. On one of their last visits, Mom brought Erin close and gently sorted her ringlets, as she had done throughout her life. Mom spoke tenderly, “I am just so very proud of you and I am so proud to have you as my daughter.” Erin was speechless, but knows that every bit of strength and wisdom she possesses came directly from Dana. Dana went back to work when Erin was just six weeks old. It wasn’t long before Dana left H&R Block to manage IBEW Credit Union. Once again, Dana embellished her skills to land the job and once again Dana found herself in over her head. She was alone at the Credit Union one night, needing to learn how to balance the books by the next morning. Dana turned to prayer and by morning the books were balanced and her accounting skills were up to the task ahead of her. Dana took the Credit Union from a simple savings and loan to a full service banking institution, complete with checking, credit cards, home equity and mortgage loans, and a membership that grew exponentially. Dana was instrumental in the transition from paper and pencil accounting to computer banking. Dana always admired her father’s foresight, remembering the day they stood at a store window and she saw her first television. He looked down at her and said, “Dana Sue, one day you will have one of those in every room of your home.” Thirty years later, with a television in nearly every room of our home, Mom told us, “One day we won’t use cash or checks, everything will be done with computers and bank cards.” Almost forty years later, we are in admiration of her wisdom when we utilize debit cards and online banking. While at the Credit Union, Dana worked taxes from her home, not because she needed the money but because she enjoyed the taxpayers. Dana liked to learn, she liked finances, and she loved helping people so it was no surprise when she became a real estate agent as well. Dana individualized her approach with each and every person she served, and often counted her clients among her friends. As her career progressed, Dana continued to excel at what she considered her main priority--being a mother. In fact she did it so well, Shayne decided it was time for a promotion. Still in her thirties, Dana was blessed with her first grandchild, Rikki Lynn. Rikki remarked, “When I think about Grandma, I think she wasn’t your typical grandma. She was tall and thin and beautiful. I think of her charm, her cavalier, subtle humor that enhanced every situation.” Rikki spent a lot of time with Grandma throughout her life, and dropped everything to come from Moab and take care of her for weeks at a time during the last few months. Grandma often remarked, “Rikki was like my own little girl.” Grandma bragged about Rikki’s financial and professional accomplishments and took pride in selling Rikki her first home, but she talked mostly about the many loving cards Rikki made. “It’s Springtime Grandma!” Justin was the first grandson and giggled as he told about the time he and Grandma were walking at Lagoon. Grandma stopped suddenly and grabbed Justin by the hand, saying “come quickly you can win these girls.” Grandma propped Justin up on a stool and told him, “Just squirt the water in the clown’s mouth to fill the balloon. It’s a good bet. I know you can beat these two little girls.” Several years later, Grandma sat with Justin, barely 21 years old, and played Blackjack. “We cleaned up!” Justin recalls. “How cool is that? She wanted to be the first one there with me when I played Blackjack.” Justin went on to say, “I loved to spend time with Grandma. I always felt very happy, very loved.” As the first grandson, Justin and grandma had a special bond. Grandma loved to tell the story about when the two were trying to fix the lights on the Christmas tree. Laying under the tree together, Justin turned to Grandma and made a promise, “I’m going to marry you when I grow up.” Justin smiles as he talks about sharing laughs and memories with Grandma during her last few months. Justin and Jayse expanded Grandma’s motherly role, giving her five great-grandchildren--Ashton, Emree, Brinley, Chloe, and Paisley. Jeremy came next, and like his older sister and brother, he adored any time he got to spend with Grandma. Each weekend, one grandchild would take a turn to sleep over at her house. When it was Jeremy’s turn, he would wake up early and pack the “Going to Grandma’s” suitcase she bought for them. Then he would sit by the window and anxiously wait for her. Jeremy and Grandma played Scrabble together from the time he learned to read. Jeremy remembers the first time he won Grandma at Scrabble. He is still very proud. Grandma remarked that Jeremy was the grandchild who always wanted to come over, even as he got older Jeremy would call and challenge Grandma to a game of Scrabble. On their last visit together, they talked about Scrabble. Jeremy smiled and laughed, saying, “I’m gonna win you at that game again someday.” In addition to keeping her Scrabble skills sharp, Jeremy further enhanced Grandma’s role as a mother when he and Jenn had their son, Jarron. Richard Tyler was the fourth and final grandchild from Shayne. Tyler remembers two specific things about Grandma: the grandfather clock and a Bernstein Bears CD. The chime of the grandfather clock was a staple at Grandma’s. And the Bernstein Bears CD, well, that’s what Tyler credits for his successful career. Grandma had a personal computer long before they were a staple in every home. She used it for her business. Grandma bought a game for Tyler to play on the computer--the Bernstein Bears. As an adult, Tyler marvels at Grandma’s generosity to share her business computer with a child, but he is very grateful she did. Tyler learned how to work computers while playing that game and concurrently earned Grandma’s confidence. Soon, Grandma was turning to Tyler when she needed help on the computer and even had him build one for her. Tyler’s computer knowledge allowed him to move up steadily in his career, surpassing people who had more seniority and formal education. Tyler says he would not be where he is today without learning computers from Grandma. She would be flattered to know Tyler feels that way, because she was extremely proud of Tyler and his accomplishments. On the day she passed, she said, “I’m going to miss his birthday. Tell him happy birthday for me.” She must’ve been talking about her newest great-grandchild. One week after her passing, Tyler and Emily welcomed Oliver into the family. After Tyler, came Brandon. Regan forgot the cardinal rule--don’t have babies during tax season. Brandon arrived on April 10, just a few days before the tax filing deadline. Grandma was enamored with the newest addition and easily forgave the timing. Brandon and Grandma were very close. Brandon spent a lot of time at Grandma’s and has so many memories it was hard to narrow them down. Grandma would not be surprised to know Brandon’s memories related to food. He laughed telling the story about a day when he was young. All day long he and Grandma planned to go to Subway sandwich. With all their errands complete and Subway sandwiches in hand, the two headed to the car to load the groceries in the trunk. Brandon held tight to his sandwich, but somehow Grandma managed to pull away with her sandwich on the top of the car. Little Brandon offered to share, but Grandma declined and went without. Brandon made it up to her years later. Homebound, Grandma enjoyed visits from all of her grandchildren. On this particular day, Brandon called on his way, offering to buy lunch from the venue of her choice. Grandma chose Subway. Brandon arrived at Subway and called to find out what sandwich and toppings Grandma wanted. She replied, “What kind of soup do they have?” Um, Grandma, Subway doesn’t have soup. She was disappointed, but ordered a sandwich anyhow. Brandon also remarked on Grandma’s love affair with butter. One of Grandma’s favorite memories of Brandon related to the day Courtney was born. Grandma was in the room when Courtney was born and brought her out to the window. Grandma was dressed still in a surgical gown. The nurses weighed and wrapped Courtney then put ointment in her eyes as Brandon watched anxiously through the window. When Grandma stepped away, Brandon ran around to meet her at the nursery door. He exclaimed, “Three things. Your suit is on backwards, there’s something wrong with her eyes, and can you get my big brother badge?” Brandon knew his Grandma could take care of everything, even finding the hospital’s supply of big brother badges. Courtney got the privilege every other grandchild dreamed of--she got to live with Grandma for part of her life. Grandma called her “Snooks.” Through tears, Courtney said, “She was the best mom any of us could ever ask for. She loved us all so much.” Simply put, Grandma was Courtney’s hero. In turn, Courtney appreciated the opportunity to be Grandma’s hero, especially when it came to finding the things Grandma lost. Courtney eventually admitted that she would purposefully hide Grandma’s glasses so she could find them for her later. The two giggled about the glasses right up to the very end. Grandma and Courtney loved each other very much. They shared a birthday, they shared a home, and they shared a love that is beyond words. Grandma’s number one priority in life was being a mother, so it speaks volumes that she was so very proud of Courtney and the way she parents her son Bobby. Erin introduced Dana to her final grandchild, Gavin, when she adopted him at age five. Gavin’s start in life was uneasy and unpredictable so he was hesitant when he first met Grandma. She handled it with the grace only she could. Grandma reached out her hand to him and said, “I feel a little bit nervous when I meet new people. I bet you are feeling a little nervous too. Why don’t you come in the house and have a cookie and we can be nervous together.” Within the hour, Gavin was jumping on the trampoline as Grandma ooed and awed. Gavin lept from the tramp into Grandma’s arm and embraced her. The two would spend almost every afternoon together for many years. On their last visit, they reminisced about caramel cashew frozen custard, annual trips to the Halloween store, playing ghoulies in the backyard, and more trips to McDonald’s than they can count. In his last card to her, Gavin wrote, “You taught me about hot fudge and gambling on the computer and what it’s like to have a grandma.” One of Dana’s favorite prayers was called My Blessings, it goes like this: “My blessings. I thought I couldn’t count them because I hadn’t any. I found I couldn’t count them because I had so many.” In reminiscing, we found the blessings Mom gave us to be so plentiful it was overwhelming. We were showered with love, strength, laughter, comfort, companionship, knowledge, safety, security, success, friendship, encouragement, pride, wisdom, creativity, perseverance, and spirituality. Thank you for our family. Thank you for amazing Christmases. Thank you for putting butter on everything. Thank you for insisting chocolate was the first taste to touch our palates. Thank you giving us the gift of play through cards and games. Thank you for bringing laughter and joy into our lives and teaching us that humor can make any situation better. Thank you for allowing us to be individuals and to believe in ourselves. Thank you for giving us Sunday School, and with it the knowledge that we are not alone and there is a greater power. Thank you for letting us define that greater power for ourselves. Thank you for giving us the wisdom, the love, and the courage to hold our heads up high and move through this world with only your memory. Thank you for being our mom, our grandma, our friend. We love you so very very much. As a family, we wish to thank Valeo Home Health, especially Cara and Regina. We also extend our love and gratitude to Michele Newport, who offered spiritual support throughout Dana’s life, and especially the last year. Dana sends a special thank you to John and Shayne, who made it possible for her to stay at home for her last months. To know Dana was to know that she loved and her respected her animal companions. Dana requests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. We will celebrate our love for Dana on Saturday, August 5, 2017. We will have a brief service at 1:00 pm, followed by an open house until 3:00 pm. Please contact your favorite family member for details. Shayne (801) 556-3420 or Erin (801) 755-0529 are available if it just too difficult to choose your favorite. We understand.