Terry Douglas Stanberry

Terry Douglas Stanberry, 65, of Clayton, NC passed away on Monday, May 22, 2023, after battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) for 5 and a half years, he acquired a bacterial infection causing pneumonia, and sending him into sepsis shock.

He was a Husband, Father, Grandfather, US Air Force Veteran, Retired State Employee, Auctioneer and Appraiser, Ham Radio Operator, and Eagle Scout – a jack of all trades and a master of one, being a “smart aleck”.

He leaves behind his wife of 13 years, Mel Stanberry of Clayton; his daughters Sacha Blacker (Tony) of Ipswich, England; Amanda Mariglia (Jeremy) of Ocala, FL; his grandchildren Brendan and Dominic Blacker of Ipswich; Cayden and Josephine Mariglia of Ocala; his brother Steve (Pat) of Candler, NC; Kim and Cindy Stanberry of Candler, and many cousins, In-laws/Out-laws, and extended family. As well as his B Flight Brothers, the American Legion Family, and many Facebook followers.

He was preceded in death by his parents Troy and Helen Smiley Stanberry of Candler.

Terry was in ROTC and a graduate of Enka High School, Haywood Community College (Associates in Timber), US Air Force Security Police Academy (K-9 School), Shaw University (Bachelor of Art in Sociology / Summa Cum Laude), and Strayer University (Master of Public Administration).

He was a member of the American Legion Post 132-Smithfield (PUFL), Sons of the American Legion-Squadron 71-Clayton, Air Force Sergeants Association Life Member, La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux JOCO Voiture 1517, Disabled American Veterans Life Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5955, and Alpha Chi Honor Society. He was a proud Air Force Veteran, serving 12 of his 15 years abroad.

He volunteered with the Civil Air Patrol from 1974-2004 and retired with 30 years of Volunteer Community Service. He was a General Instructor Certified through the Criminal Justice Education & Training Commission, FEMA Certified, FEMA Train the Trainer with 33 Certificates of Training, and Professional Continuity Practitioner/Incident Commander. He loved to travel, take pictures, and make people laugh, especially over a good meal or a cup of coffee.

Before he died, he managed to write his own obituary, in which he celebrated some of his most significant milestones and relationships. The family has redacted (…) some bits and pieces because as you know, Terry would share a little too many details in his stories.

"It pains me to admit it, but apparently, I have passed away. Everyone told me it would happen one day but that's simply not something I wanted to hear, much less experience.

I was born to Troy and Helen Stanberry on November 22, 1957. … We lived in a house, stick built from spare lumber while my Dad worked on the Railroad. I have an older brother Steve Stanberry which I always called Brother. … So many things in my life seemed of little significance at the time they happened but then took on a greater importance as I got older. The memories I'm taking with me now are so precious and have more value than all the gold and silver in my jewelry box. Memories, where do I begin?

Well, I remember Mother making Lemon pies with big meringue; I remember Daddy working on the Railroad in Biltmore and bringing me surprises in his lunchbox; I remember my older brother Steve teaching me to fish, and hunt after our dad died in 1977 from MS, when I was only 10. I remember my Grandparents and living with them in the summer in Bryson City, waiting for the Pet Milk Man to come, so I could get Chocolate milk and some ice cream. Enka High School was just like a dream that I left behind for my next challenge. I … attended Haywood Community College bored to death in North Carolina wanting to travel. My first overseas assignment was RAF Woodbridge, England. I remember England and had a daughter Sacha Louise Bond born in 1978 when I was just a kid myself. I left England with guilt over my daughter and always thought of her but found her later in life in 2003. …

My plan was to go back home, but I found my second wife Lisa Liebenow and we took a four years assignment to Aviano AFB, Italy and had a daughter Amanda Margarite. …

I've always loved Denver Colorado, so I got orders from Turkey to Buckley and that was supposed to be a great assignment, but it ended my Air Force career. So after the First Gulf War I got out in June 1992, and came back home to Candler. By this time my dear mom was sick with Parkinson’s, and I helped to take care of her until she passed in 2000.

During that time, I worked for two large German companies in Asheville, NC, ITT­ Automotive and Sonopress LLC both companies let me go when manufacturing died in Western NC. I went to work for the State of North Carolina. It took months to get on and I worked in the Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Public Safety, and Department of Transportation, and was forced to retire when I could no longer work (due to AML).

In 2009 I married Mel Stoss, the love of my life. She made me happy and I felt young again, and we traveled the world together. We loved our dogs, and they became our family. In social media I used sarcasm to express my feelings and keep up with family and high school and military friends.

So- I was born; I blinked; and it was over.

No buildings will be named after me; no monuments erected in my honor. But I DID have the chance to know and love each and every friend as well as all my family members. How much more blessed can a person be?

So, in the end, remember-- do your best, follow your arrow, and make something amazing out of your life. Oh, and never stop smiling.

Today I am happy, and I am dancing. Probably naked. Love you forever, TERRY."

Funeral and Celebration of Life arrangements will be finalized for dates in July in Clayton/Smithfield and Black Mountain/Asheville areas.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at https://lls.org/ or join Mel and the Terry’s Trouble Makers Team for the Triangle Light the Night Walk https://www.lightthenight.org/about on 10/21/23.