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Terry Williams Obituary
Middleport: Age 69. Entered into rest on Saturday, December 8, 2007. Born in Rochester, NY on February 28, 1938 he was the son of the late Harry and Gertrude (Walker) Williams. He married Sue Burkhardt August 28, 1965 at Croton on the Hudson. Terry taught high school science at the Park School in Buffalo and Amherst High School. In 1973 Terry pursued his dream of breeding and training horses. His greatest success came in 1984 when the stallion, Abdullah, he had trained, competed at the Los Angeles Olympics winning a gold and silver medal in show jumping. With his wife Sue of 42 years, they operated Williamsburg Farm, a horse breeding operation and Chestnut Ridge Equestrian Center.
Terry is survived by his wife, Sue Burkhardt Williams. Brother of: Michael (Bernadine) Williams, Jack (Beverly) Williams, Harry (Rose) William and Joan Kay. He is also survived by 8 nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service on Saturday, December 15, 2007 from the Royalton United Methodist Church, 5309 Royalton Center Road, Middleport, NY at 11:00 A.M. with the Reverend James Maxwell officiating. Arrangements entrusted to the Sherrie-Bream Funeral Home, Gasport, NY.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Roswell Park Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 631, Buffalo, NY 14240-0631 to further colon cancer research.
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Memories and Condolences
for Terry Williams
Megan Marriott
December 30, 2007
To Sue and the Chestnut Ridge Family past and present, my most heartfelt condolences to you and yours on the loss of our beloved Terry. The mentor of my life and the caring nature of this man will never be lost. I will forever remember the many stories and support you have imparted on all of use. I will remember you friend, as being an amazing influence and pillar of strength, courage and wit that will be etched on the hearts and minds of so many who loved you. I will take with me all that you have taught about life on the back of a trusty steed, meandering along the backfields of my youth at Chestnut Ridge. May God Bless and Keep You may the light you have given to so many be a testament to a life well lived. I will remember you and take what you have taught with me always.
Helen Williams, Wood
December 23, 2007
My uncle, to all of us, my brother and two sisters we quite commonly refered to him as Uncle Butch.He was full of life and as A little girl of five I remember him calling me by a nickname of his making pork chop.I use to think it was due to my liking of that succulant meat,however, looking back on the family photos I now know why I held that name! I never thought that I would miss it but I do. When we were young he use to chase us around alot and One event tends to still make me smile! One hot summer day he was trying to lasso us kids, we were running all over with Uncle Butch right at our heels, we were squealing the rope was in the air and bam he got my sister Terry smack dab in the mouth, with all the excitement he must of forgot the snap on the rope and cracked my sisters front tooth! He felt so bad but my brother and I got A charge out of it. My sister still is reminded of that cracked tooth, allthouth fixed you can still see the crack. That was what he was like to us, a whole lot of fun. I remember going to the farm way back when he and aunt Sue lived in the little house, we helped with the hay A few times and what I liked most was spending time playing with their dog Kelly. Those times spent were special and looking back Im thankful to have been raised around such A humorous and adventurous Uncle. To sum it up I would have to say that my definition of A successful man is one that not only has reached the goals that he sets before him but its the way he treated those he met along the way. The way he made those he knew feel they meant something and were special. Its the way he carried himself and the lifeskills he learned and distributed along the way that to me is success and that is my Uncle Butch. My thoughts and prayers are with you Aunt Sue,stay strong and god bless.
julie mccoy
December 20, 2007
terri was real good to work for he taught me alot of good things to know about horse care.All in a days work.I guess Terri can get that farm right for us when we all have to trot into that pasture sorry to hear about this Sue, you have my deep condolences.
Sincerly,
Julie Mccoy
Bill & Jean Edmister
December 17, 2007
Our hearts and prayers go out to you. May God send you comfort in the days ahead.
Ray & Roxann Gorski
December 14, 2007
We are sorry for your loss, As this is hard to cope with, we must all remember the good times through life that Terry has provided for all to cherrish. As a girl growing up I listen to many stories told throughout the years by my elders. In fact, there may have been a few things learned. The one thing that we'll always remember about our neighbor is Terry was a pleasant and smiling person and always waived to everyone.
Gary & Carol Lederhouse
December 14, 2007
To the Williamsburg Family our deepest Sympathy to you. Terry was one of the nicest neighbors to have. It was always a pleasure to say hello to him and Sue as they rode their bueatiful horses around the land. We will miss Terry.
Roseanne & Rev. DawnMarie Lafferty
December 13, 2007
Words seem too inadequate at such a time as this and yet we know in our hearts that Terry is with his beloved Abdullah in Heaven. As Christians, it is our belief that we will all meet again and so it is with a heavy heart that we bid your earthly body 'adieu' but knowing that we will all meet again in God's pasture.
Trish Hopkins-Brown
December 13, 2007
Terry was such an amazing man, my heartfelt condolences go out to Sue and the Williamsburg family. I will always cherish my summer spent as a student there, living in their house. God speed Terry, I hope your winging over the fences in heaven on Dually.
Deb Jones
December 13, 2007
We never met but Terry made such an important contribution to Trakehners in the US that I just wanted to express my sympathy, condolences, and thanks for all he and Sue did.
Sheila Cooney Swigert
December 13, 2007
Terry was a classmate at Honeoye Falls High School. He was funny and fun to be with. I'm certain that he was the same for his entire life, meaning that he will be missed.
Jim Sargeant
December 13, 2007
I was raised near the Red Horse Ranch in West Bloomfield, N.Y. and spent a summer in my youth helping Terry manage a ranch for the YMCA camp out of Rochester, N.Y. on Darts Lake in the Aidirondak Mountains. He was a wonderful man to work with during that summer and I have many fond memories of that time. I will miss him
Margie Fitchlee
December 12, 2007
We send our heartfelt condolences to Sue and all of Terry's Family and Friends. We will never forget the excitement that the neighbors in Royalton Center felt when Terry and Sue arrived home with their horse Olympic Champion Abdullah from the 1984 Olympics. What an honor for them...our daughters were in grade school then and along with neighbors made signs and banners to offically welcome home our celebrity neighbors from the Williamsburg Farm across the road from us. The girls will never foret that. We watched all those years that Terry and Sue restored that farmhouse numbering the clapboards one by one...what a beautiful homestead they ended up with...I often thought to myself what a great view I have of their horse pasture out my diningroom window..and how many years I have enjoyed looking at it. Lenny will never forget the time he was talking to Terry about our Columbus week-end adventure in the Adirondack mountains and this wonderful place called "Camp Gorham" outside of Old Forge..he got the biggest smile on his face as he told Lenny that he was a wrangler there in his youth and new the Camp Director Barney who we also got to know after several visits up there...small world isn't it? On occasion over the years we got to give Terry and Sue a call to let them know that one or more of their horses were on the loose...I think Terry got a real charge out of the time Lenny pulled his pick-up truck across one of the openings that the horses got out from..telling him- you know Lenny those horses could probably jump right over that truck of yours...I guess you can say Lenny learned a few things from that adventure. I will personally miss seeing Terry out there in the horse pasture tending to all those horses..come rain or shine..he and Sue had to take care of them...I hope Sue and her family and friends can take comfort in knowing that Terry is home with his beloved Abdullah in heaven and that he will be gravely missed here on this earth!!! God Bless!!! Neighbors Lenny and Margie Fitchlee
Margie Fitchlee
December 12, 2007
We send our heartfelt condolences to Sue and all of Terry's Family and Friends. We will never forget the excitement that the neighbors in Royalton Center felt when Terry and Sue arrived home with their horse Olympic Champion Abdullah from the 1984 Olympics. What an honor for them...our daughters were in grade school then and along with neighbors made signs and banners to offically welcome home our celebrity neighbors from the Williamsburg Farm across the road from us. The girls will never foret that. We watched all those years that Terry and Sue restored that farmhouse numbering the clapboards one by one...what a beautiful homestead they ended up with...I often thought to myself what a great view I have of their horse pasture out my diningroom window..and how many years I have enjoyed looking at it. Lenny will never forget the time he was talking to Terry about our Columbus week-end adventure in the Adirondack mountains and this wonderful place called "Camp Gorham" outside of Old Forge..he got the biggest smile on his face as he told Lenny that he was a wrangler there in his youth and new the Camp Director Barney who we also got to know after several visits up there...small world isn't it? On occasion over the years we got to give Terry and Sue a call to let them know that one or more of their horses were on the loose...I think Terry got a real charge out of the time Lenny pulled his pick-up truck across one of the openings that the horses got out from..telling him- you know Lenny those horses could probably jump right over that truck of yours...I guess you can say Lenny learned a few things from that adventure. I will personally miss seeing Terry out there in the horse pasture tending to all those horses..come rain or shine..he and Sue had to take care of them...I hope Sue and her family and friends can take comfort in knowing that Terry is home with his beloved Abdullah in heaven and that he will be gravely missed here on this earth!!! God Bless!!! Neighbors Lenny and Margie Fitchlee
Jim Wagner
December 12, 2007
Farley and I were very sorry to hear of Terry's passing. We will remember a kind and thoughtful man who possessed a great sense of humor and always carried himself with grace and wisdom no matter the situation.
Karen Wnek
December 12, 2007
We are so sorry to hear about the passing of Terry. If there is anything you need (help at the farm etc, please don't hesitate to call - 778-7161.
Karen Wnek
Heather Chapman
December 11, 2007
Terry will be foreven known as a kind and encouraging person who had a beautiful way with people and horses. His life influenced so many people and he will be forever remembered for his delightful personality, encouraging and entertaining stories and beautiful spirit. I look forward to seeing him again in heaven
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