Moore, Turrell (Terry) Adcock

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Terry Moore.

As the youngest of three, Terry was predeceased by his parents, Charles Adcock Moore (1979)  and Jean Caldwell (née Thompson) (1994) and his siblings, Charles Moore (2004) and Jane Mackenzie-Elliott (2012) .

Terry is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Wilma Jean, and their children, Rhonda Ross and Kendra Jean (married to David Harris) He is also survived by nieces and nephews in Canada and the United States. 

Born in Victoria and raised in Vancouver, Terry cherished his summer vacations on Vancouver Island at Craig’s Crossing. His passion for anthropology and First Nations culture blossomed at the University of British Columbia, where he completed his undergraduate degree. He briefly continued his studies at the University of Washington in Seattle. During his graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he met and married the love of his life, Jean. The couple then moved to Eugene, Oregon, where Terry earned his PhD from the University of Oregon.  

The University of Lethbridge  opened on September 1,1967. Terry arrived  the summer of 1970 to join the combined faculties of Anthropology and Sociology. He would later develop and teach courses in the Geography department. Terry played a key role in the establishment of the Indigenous Studies program at the University in 1975. He provided mentorships for many of his students who had a variety of interests in different fields of study. Terry's innovative ideas around multidisciplinary studies helped students achieve their educational goals at the University of Lethbridge, as he guided and provided academic advice to many. While at the U of L, Terry served for seven years as a member of the Ministers Advisory Committee on University Affairs, two of those years as Chairman. 

After serving as a faculty member at the University of Lethbridge for 16 years, Terry was appointed Chair of the Alberta Council of Admissions and Transfers in the fall of 1986, a role he held until his retirement in 2001. Throughout his tenure, he consistently prioritized students as the central focus of admissions and transfer decisions.

In retirement, Terry and Jean traveled extensively, often following  their daughter Kendra on international stages with her dance companies and The Lion King tour. They embraced the role of surrogate parents to many and created countless cherished memories during their adventures around the globe. He was known for his engaging conversations and was a considerate listener with an insatiable curiosity.

Terry was a thoughtful, deliberate, and soft-spoken person who savored good food (especially Jean’s cooking), had a passion for gardening (particularly roses), and found joy in reading, music, and the performing arts. He was a dedicated student of piano and classical guitar, with a deep passion for folk music. As a young teen, he had the honor of attending a workshop with the renowned Pete Seeger. 

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude for the daily care Terry received from home care aides and the compassionate team of nurses and doctors at Grey Nuns Hospital.

At his request, Terry was cremated, and a Celebration of Life will be planned for a future date.

Submitted by Kendra Moore