December 25, 1942 – February 16, 2026
John Wesley Terry, III, a man of the sea, the saddle, and steadfast faith, passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 16, 2026. He was 83 years old, born on Christmas Day, 1942 — a fitting entrance for a man whose life would prove to be a gift to all who knew him.
John was born the only son of Edith Coffee Terry and John Wesley Terry, Jr., and was raised in Leesville, Louisiana, where he came of age among the piney hills of Vernon Parish. A proud Wampus Cat, he graduated from Leesville High School, where he channeled his natural drive and love of competition onto the football field. Those who knew him then would not have been surprised by the remarkable life that followed — John was never a man to shy away from a challenge.
After high school, he answered his country’s call and served honorably in the United States Navy. It was during those years at sea that something stirred deeply within him — a love for the ocean that would shape the rest of his life. The vast, restless waters called to him, and he answered.
Between adventures, John lived with gusto. He worked many jobs, and — in one of the more colorful chapters of a colorful life — even spent time as a bronc buster on the rodeo circuit, a testament to the fearlessness and grit that defined him. But it was his career as a Sea Captain in the Merchant Marines that became his true calling. As captain, he crossed oceans and visited distant ports, and the world opened itself to him in ways few are fortunate enough to experience.
In his later years, John found his greatest purpose close to home. A devout Christian, he devoted himself to his wife, Mary Jean Moore Terry, caring for her with tenderness and love. Those who witnessed it saw a man who had sailed the world over and found that the harbor he treasured most was beside her.
John is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Jean Moore Terry; his gracious stepson Mark Baltzegar and Mark’s wife Melissa “Missy” Baltzegar, and their son, Justin Baltzegar; his daughter Elizabeth Huffines of Oregon; his daughter Tamara Edmond and her husband Darrin Edmond; grandchildren Gabrielle Edmond, Ethan Edmond, Amber Westley Edmond, and great granddaughter, Sophia Moore.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Edith Coffee Terry and John Wesley Terry, Jr.
Captain John Wesley Terry, III, lived a life that most only dream of — from the rodeo to the open sea, from foreign shores to a quiet home filled with love. He will be deeply and dearly missed. May he rest in the peace he so richly earned, and may the tides carry him gently home.
A graveside service with military honors will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in Leesville Cemetery under the direction of Jeane’s Funeral Service.