James Craig Terry, 78, of Edwardsville, Illinois, known to all who knew him as Craig, died on August 29, 2025, at Anderson Hospital in Maryville, Illinois.

He was born January 2, 1947, in Springfield, Illinois, the beloved son of the late Earl Roy and Rosemary Adrienne (Nee Andres) Terry.

Around age 2, the signs of Craig's intellectual disability began to emerge, but they never diminished his laughter, smile or the joy he received from the things and people so important to him. He was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Collinsville, where he received acolyte training and served in Liturgical Roles for many years. He attended St Mary's Special School in St. Louis, and later, for over 30 years, called Edwardsville Terrace his home, where he lived very happily and content in his routines. He was a happy person and anyone who met him usually walked away with a smile on their face.

Craig loved his parents and his dogs, Hermann and Frederich, and he was very much loved by them. He enjoyed spending time with his neighbors Roger and Gloria, who always kept Craig's best interests at heart. If you telephoned him, he would ask how you and everyone in the family were doing; satisfied if all was well, concerned if something was amiss.

Craig loved the Three Stooges. Mo, Larry and Curly were a lifelong presence in Craig's daily musings. One couldn't help but laugh with Craig as he'd watch or tell stories of the antics of those Stooges. Pictures of the Stooges hung on a wall of Craig's room, next to pictures of Jesus, his parents and dogs, and Frankie Yankovic among others, showing the level of importance they had to him.

Craig loved cars. He loved Chevy cars, NASCAR and Jimmie Johnson. He remembered every car his parents owned and could describe them in great detail, on the inside, outside and under the hood. From a young age, when riding down the road, he could identify the make, model and year of virtually every car he passed, just by its front/grill alone. His knowledge of cars impressed anyone who had the privilege of seeing him in action. Growing up, driving his minibike or riding lawn mower around his yard was one of his favorite pastimes.

Craig loved polka music, and he loved to dance. His parents were acquaintances of Frankie Yankovic and Craig was particularly partial to the Yankovic polka recordings. Growing up, his parents gifted him a full-sized, very cool, colorfully lighted jukebox in their home, well stocked with polka records. If you visited the Terry home, you could expect at some point that the jukebox would light up and you would soon be dancing with Craig until you were out of breath.

The staff at Edwardsville Terrace is the finest; one that took time to get to know Craig, treated him with respect and provided a home where he felt comfortable to be himself. In his last days, staff thoughtfully called to check in or came to visit him in the hospital to let him know how much he was missed. The staff at Challenge Unlimited is also excellent and Craig looked forward to going to their workshop every weekday for close to 30 years. They too treated him with kindness and respect. He also enjoyed a  friendship he held dear with Dale and the staff at True Value Rental in Edwardsville. They would talk with Craig whenever he would visit to regale them with his stories and, in the evenings, Craig would sit on his front porch and wave at Dale and the crew as they drove by leaving work. They would wave back, bringing delight to Craig who would declare, "That's my friend". The family is so grateful for the kindness, care and friendship shared with Craig by the people in his life over the years.

One of the excellent employees at Craig's home who was responsible for overseeing his care, wrote, "Craig lived life with passion, whether it was reminiscing about his dogs, talking to people about cars, waving at the neighbors, joking with his housemates and those at workshop, or blaming malicious acts on the three stooges, he was always happy and a joy to spend time with. His loyalty and humor touched countless lives, and his presence brought light into every room. To his friends, he was amazing to be around, and to the world an unforgettable soul."

Blessings on blessings for a life well lived.

Craig is survived by his aunt, Sybil Andres Diccion of Morenci, Michigan, and cousins living across the country.

Funeral services will be held at St Andrew's Episcopal Church in Edwardsville on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 2:30pm. A memorial gathering will follow in the Parish Hall, with food and refreshments beginning around 4:00pm. A graveside service will be held on Friday, September 19, 2025 at 11:30am at Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum, 4947 W. Florissant Ave. St. Louis, Missouri.