Terrance Terry Arnett Harris

Born on February 20, 1941 in Bristol, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia, he and his mother, Elizabeth, moved to Raleigh in 1943, when his parents separated. Raised in Halifax Court, a public housing development, Terry excelled in YMCA and little league sports, but had to work to help out with family finances from the age of 12. In 2003, Terrys wife, Vickie, died after almost 37 wonderful years of marriage. He is survived by two sons, Randy of Jamestown and Terry, Jr. of Raleigh, and his daughter Toni, who lives in Garner. He is also survived by a sister-in-law Bonnie Johnson, a nephew Mike Johnson, 4 grandchildren and one great granddaughter. Terry was also predeceased by one of his grandsons, Tyler Langdon, died in 1994. His death was especially hard on Terry because of his very close relationship to him. Terry attended Barbee Elementary School, Hugh Morson High School/Jr. High School, and Needham Broughton High School, graduating in 1959. After his military service and during employment with the NC Department of Transportation, he attended Wake Community College and North Carolina State University. Two weeks after his high school graduation, Terry enlisted in the US Navy, serving aboard 2 different transport ships carrying soldiers to Germany and marines to ports in the Mediterranean Sea. Prior to his release from active duty, he was involved in pre-war planning for the upcoming war in Vietnam. After his military service, he worked at the US Post Office and an Atlanta-based private engineering firm, and then began an almost 30-year career with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, retiring in 1993. Terry first worked as an entry-level technician in the Signing Section and worked his way up to an Area Traffic Engineer, managing the Traffic Engineering Branchs Fayetteville office. Throughout his career, he was a member of the State, Southern Section and International Institute of Transportation Engineers. Terry was deeply involved in support of all NC State Wolfpack sports. He had season tickets for many years to States football and basketball games, and he attended many of the football teams bowl games. His favorite coaches were Lou Holtz in football and Jimmy Valvano in basketball. In the mid 1970s, the family moved to the Garner area to allow his kids to participate in the little league sports programs in Garner. There, Terry began a long coaching career in basketball, football and baseball. Several players got athletic scholarships to college and 2 played professionally. During one of Garner Senior High Schools baseball season, almost one-half of the team had played for Terry. In 1995, following the death of his grandson Tyler, Terry began playing amateur pool in the American Poolplayer Association. He played as a youth but his poor eyesight limited his ability. After Lasik eye surgery, his billiard skills improved substantially, and became a very good player. During his league play, Terry was on 6 APA teams that played in the National Championships in Las Vegas. Graveside Service will be held Tuesday at 1:00PM at Historic Oakwood Cemetery, alongside his wife, grandson, mother, and grandmother. The family will receive friends from 11-12:00, Tuesday, at Bryan Lee Funeral Home, 1200 Benson Road, Garner. Pallbearers will be from members of little league teams he coached. Flowers are accepted or donations may be made to the Jimmy V Foundation 106 Towerview Court, Cary, NC 27513.