Good people pass away;
the godly often die before their time...
For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die. -Isaiah 57:1-2

The sweetest baby girl was born on August 16, 2005. Just one year, one month and one day after her big sister, Ranae. She weighed barely 5 pounds and she was beautiful. She was first named “Ruby”, by her dad. A day or two after she was born, I was wheeled into the NICU to feed and hold her. I searched for Ruby’s usual spot to no avail. I eventually asked a nurse, “Where’s Ruby?” She said, “Oh, your husband Was here at 3:00 am to feed her a bottle and he changed her name.” I scanned the room and saw the name card on a bassinet. There was our girl, Terra Wyn. She was named after her Popa, Terry Wayne. Baby TT, the last of the 6 grandkids, had arrived. She quickly became attached to her sister, her 4 cousins and Cheddy. And all of us were equally in love with her.
Terra loved life. She loved to laugh. She wanted to do it all. Her favorite places to be as a young girl were at the dairy with the cousins, gram and popa’s house at the lake and anywhere at all just giggling with her sister or her friends. She loved to bake cookies for her dad and on the weekends make him cheese bagels and eggs for breakfast. Terra could (and did) go straight from a 12 hour day at a volleyball tournament to Prom and look like a million bucks. She was something special.
Terra began gymnastics when she was 5 years old which started her love for athletics and competition. Her capabilities were endless. She played many sports throughout her life. Diving and volleyball were her highlights. In high school she also played water polo, was on the swim team and earned a red belt in tae kwon do. She loved pickleball with Gram, too.
When she was 15, Terra set her focus on academics and volleyball. She loved being a part of a team. She loved traveling with the girls and the FORZA1 families.
When she reached college, she was double majoring in Business and Honors Humanities at Azusa Pacific University. Terra quickly bonded with her professors, Volleyball teammates, classmates and the APU community. She was preparing to graduate this December and planned to continue working as a trainer at Salty fitness studio and also at West Coast Materials where she would use her business degree. Terra and her boyfriend, Ty, were looking forward to spending their lives together soon after.
On Friday, September 19, she was home to celebrate her dad’s birthday. Just before bed time, she was talking about heaven and how she will continue to be bold in her faith. She said goodnight, went into her room to FaceTime with Ty, and then fell asleep. She did not wake up. Terra closed her eyes and at some time in the night, peacefully went to be with Jesus.
Terra lived every single day to the fullest. She was resilient, brave, funny, determined, efficient, happy, aware, silly, smart, hard working, humble, generous, kind, compassionate, diligent, fair, loyal and she knew how to read the room. She also left open cans of whatever she was drinking (with one sip out of it) around the house, left her clean laundry on the floor for a few too many days, and she rarely made her bed. She appreciated a peaceful sunrise and a beautiful sunset. A friend of hers was watching the sun set from our deck a few nights ago and said, “Oh look, Terra’s showing off again”.
Terra was greeted in heaven by her Uncle Mark Vander Dussen and grandpas John Whitaker and Randy Randels and is survived by her parents Mark and Keri, sister Ranae, grandparents, Terry and Gloria Myers, grandma Carol Whitaker, aunt Kim Whitaker, tante Ranae Vander Dussen and cousins John (Ryleigh) Vander Dussen, Wybrand (Amber, Elsje, Esmee) Vander Dussen, Kerina (Trent, Annie, Garrett, Isabel) Zysling and Rhett Vander Dussen.
Terra loved her family and friends with her whole heart. We are so grateful and blessed to have had her here with us for 20 years. We are in awe of the heartfelt and deep relationships she created with so many people. She was loved.
T was never one to demand the spotlight. But now when we watch the sunset, let’s just imagine it’s her, showing off.

Terra's service will be live-streamed. Please see the link below.

http://APU.edu/live