Terry Lechner

Terry was born on his father’s birthday on August 14, 1937, to Roy and Mayme Chrystal (Cass) Hawkins in Myrtle Point, Oregon. In 1939, his mother Mayme died of cancer. His father and his brother Joe Hawkins decided to place him with his aunt, Louisa Ellen (Hawkins) Lechner and her husband Clyde Howard Lechner and he was legally adopted by them. A finer union had never been made. So, his aunt became his mother, and his father became his uncle, how cool is that. He loved both men. 

Terry attended schools from grade school to high school in Cottage Grove, Oregon, and spent many summer weeks with his new uncle in Yachats, Oregon. He attended the University of Oregon with a major in music. In 1956 he enlisted in the Marine Corps San Diego, California, then on to Camp Pendleton, California. He first became a grunt and was later posted as a firearms instructor. He taught hundreds of men to use the tools of their trade. 

On December 7, 1957, Terry married Sondra Rae Hoffa in Escondido, California. After three years in the USMC, he mustered out while living in Escondido and found a position with General Dynamics Astronautics at Kearney Mesa, California. They were building the Atlas Missile at that time. 

After several years he helped make the manpower predictions for new projects and saw the loss of 5000 people in the near future, so they moved to Buhl, Idaho, where his wife is from. He worked at Northwest Livestock Supply for several years. Then moved on to Wendling’s Soft Water, both in Twin Falls, Idaho. He was also an agent for The Prudential Insurance Agency. He did not care to be in an office or a car most of the time or work nights, so he fled the insurance business and found a job as an apprentice auto mechanic. He found his niche. He worked and studied until he was awarded a Journeyman Certificate for Automotive Mechanic. Terry later attended night school to qualify for a certificate to teach automotive machine shop vocational classes. 

He worked at the West End Garage until the owner died, then took over along with Dean Bell for several years. When Dean wanted to retire, Terry moved to the local Chevrolet Garage as service manager, and later he went to work for Kirkham auto parts in the machine shop. After several years he moved to the parent company, Nordling Auto Parts as an automotive machine shop manager. He and Ron Stoksberry opened a machine and welding manufacturing shop in Filer, Idaho, called W.A.M.C.O. The business was dissolved when both partners became disabled and were unable to continue working. 

Our only child, our son, Caycee Howard Lechner was born on February 13, 1968. Then our lives changed forever.

Terry was one of the founding board members of McAuley Home for girls here in Buhl. He spent 12 years elected to the Buhl City Council rotating as adviser to the many different departments. 

After he retired, he went to school at Magic Valley Memorial Hospital to educate himself on hospice care and volunteered to care for terminally ill patients in their own homes for 13 years. At age 46 he learned to fly, purchased an airplane, and received his pilot’s license. He loved to fly, and he loved the mountains where he flew every chance he could. He always said, “there is a god, and once you look out the window at 8,000 feet and see what’s beneath, you know”. 

Music was important to him, and his ultimate instrument of choice was a classical and a 12-string guitar. Terry performed in the Magic Valley, Jackpot, Nevada, and Boise, Idaho, with The Nobles who later became The Common Taters. He also teamed up with the late Mike Wendling, who he loved like a brother. In our house there are 3 guitars, several tin whistles, harmonicas, and a set of bagpipes. 

Terry was preceded in death by his parents; his only brother, Joe Hawkins of Roseburg, Oregon.; and his son, Caycee. He is survived by his wife, Sondra.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Terry’s memorial webpage at www.farmerfuneralchapel.com.