Terry Rector

Charles Terry Rector, 81, of Cookeville, Tennessee passed away August 29 at his home after a valiant battle with Parkinson’s. Born October 4, 1942, in Cookeville to Haskell and Ruby Rector, Terry possessed all of the characteristics of the blessed Christian that he was: faith and hope in his Savior, kindness and compassion toward everyone he met, and most of all, love of his family and friends.

After graduating from Cookeville Central High School, Terry followed in the footsteps of a cherished uncle and enrolled in accounting at Tennessee Tech. Following graduation, he began a career in the Tech Business Office that would span 4 decades. During this time, his responsibilities would rise from reading adding machine tape as a young employee to ultimately being responsible for the entire campus budget as the Vice President of Business and Finance. During this 40-year tenure, he also achieved a master’s degree from Tech in 1973. Title or degree did not matter to Terry, however. He considered it a privilege to work for his alma mater and most importantly, he cherished all of those he worked with over the years. As a mentor and friend, he loved all the Business Office employees and others across campus that he was fortunate to work with. Terry’s response to anyone who referred to him as Mr. Rector was always the same: “Please, call me Terry.”

Terry’s greatest love of all was for his family, and the pinnacle of that love was for his soulmate, “Judy Kaye.” Married on April 17, 1965, Judy and Terry were inseparable over the years, with Judy overseeing their home and the raising of their two boys while Terry spent his many days in the office. After Terry’s retirement, they continued their various lifelong passions: taking care of grandkids, love of vintage Corvettes, log homes and all things antiques, visiting Civil War battlefields, anniversary trips to Charleston, SC, beach trips with their kids and grandkids, spending time at the lake, and most of all, loving on one another. As a testament to their love, every night after they said their jointly prayers, they recited a quote from one of their favorite TV shows: “I love you. I love you too. I love you more. I love you most. I love you more most. I love you most more.”

Terry is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Judy Henry Rector, sons Tiff Rector and Kendall Rector, granddaughter Kinsley Rector, grandson Tanner Rector, sister Barbara (Larry) Maxwell, special cousin who Terry considered a brother Millis (Sharon) Higgenbotham and numerous nieces and nephews.

Terry was preceded in death by parents Haskell and Ruby Higgenbotham Rector and daughter-in-law Vickie Madewell Rector.

A special thank you is conveyed to the wonderful nurses, aids, and staff of Amedisys Home Health Care and Gentiva Hospice who were Terry’s angels on earth during his illness.

The family will receive friends at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper, Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 10 from 4 to 8 p.m. Terry has chosen cremation, and no funeral service will be held.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Rector-Henry Scholarship Endowment, c/o Tennessee Tech University Foundation, Box 1915, Cookeville, TN 38505.

Hooper, Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (931)526-6111. Share condolences and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com.