Terry Williams Puckett

Retired U.S. Army Major Terry Williams Puckett passed on to his final resting place on October 19, 2021, at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. Terry was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on August 20, 1940.

Major Puckett was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Christine Puckett, his wives Lillian (Blue) Puckett and Kathy (Ishibashi) Puckett, and his sister Judy (Puckett) Sherbert. He is survived by his daughter, Cherie Blue Lloyd, brother Kim B. Puckett and family, brother-in-law Ron Sherbert, and nieces and nephews Roe, Ty, and Brett Sherbert, Kelley, Jessica, Kylie, and Ty Puckett—-along with nine other great nieces and great nephews. He was also the Great-Nephew of the UCLA basketball coach emeritus John Wooden of Martinsville, Indiana.

As a young man Terry was quite energetic and enterprising having delivered papers for the Indianapolis Star newspaper, and working several other demanding jobs while in High School, including stocking for Kroger's grocery. He attended School Number 1 Elementary, Shortridge High School and Arsenal Technical School, graduating from Shortridge High School. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1960, graduated from the U.S. Army Office Candidates School, and was ultimately promoted to a Major's commission. While in the Army he was a member of the 82nd Airborne Command and was in the first group to parachute from a military jet. He served his country in Vietnam and was rewarded with several medals for service and merit. Postwar he was in charge of the Far East Officer's Locker Fund in Okinawa, Japan. While in the service Major Puckett took various courses from the University of Maryland and eventually graduated from the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. In 1980 Terry retired from the military having served his country for over 20 years. His commanding officer at that time, A D Woods said of Terry, "He had more common sense than any officer I've ever known. He did it his way."

In retirement, after serving in the military, Terry started several businesses which he successfully ran in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Morgan City, Louisiana. After his business endeavors, he spent many enjoyable hours, days, and months in searching out and selling antiques, and then gaming at his natural game of poker in both the state of Louisiana and the state of Nevada.

No matter where Terry worked or played, he was always able to garner respect from his peers and friends—which speaks to his outgoing personality and general knowledge. He particularly enjoyed writing to new and old friends that he encountered and who he revered as thoughtful, kind, and intelligent. He will be dearly missed by all his many friends and relatives throughout the world.

There will be a Memorial Service at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veterans Memorial Dr., Boulder City, NV 89005, Thursday December 9, 2021 @ 8:00 am,.

It is respectfully requested that anyone desiring to donate in Terry's honor consider either the Salvation Army or the Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation.