Search by Name
Search by Name
Terese Tarlton Hershey
1923-2017
Terese T. (Terry) Hershey, one of America's most influential conservationists, passed away peacefully on her 94th birthday at her home in Houston. Called a "Force of Nature" by former President and friend, George H.W. Bush, Hershey's impact on the landscape of the United States stretched from the banks of Buffalo Bayou in Houston to every state in the Union.
Terry Hershey was born in Fort Worth Texas on January 19th, 1923, one of two children of John and Elizabeth Tarlton. She was preceded in death by her brother and a niece. Terry attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in philosophy in 1943. She returned to Fort Worth and established the city's very first art gallery on the family property which, following her parents' deaths, she donated to the City of Fort Worth. Today it is known as Wright-Tarlton Park in their names.
In 1958, Terry married Jacob W. Hershey, CEO of American Commercial Barge Lines. For more than a decade they sailed the Atlantic and Caribbean from Maine to Tobago, ultimately leaving their life on the Sea for two beautiful ranches in Southwestern Colorado and The Texas Hill Country.
Jake and Terry made their home in Houston along Buffalo Bayou and it was there that her life's work in defense of the environment began. Shortly after their marriage, the U.S. Congress approved funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to clear all natural vegetation from the banks of the Bayou, straighten its meanders, and line it with cement. Incensed at the prospect of the destruction of its natural beauty, with help from oilman George Mitchell, Hershey convinced then Freshman Congressman George H.W. Bush to ask that funding be withdrawn.
From this now legendary conservation victory, Terry Hershey founded numerous organizations dedicated to environmental protection, including the Bayou Preservation Association, Citizens Who Care, The Citizen's Environmental Coalition, The Park People and Urban Harvest. Additionally, she and Jake founded the Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation which is largely dedicated to conservation.
Terry Hershey's dedication and skill was recognized by many elected officials including Houston Mayors Kathy Whitmire, Bob Lanier, Lee Brown, and Bill White, all of whom appointed her to successive terms on the Houston Parks Board. Governor Dolph Briscoe appointed Hershey to the Texas Conservation Foundation and Governor Ann Richards named her the second woman ever to be appointed to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, considered to be among the most prestigious appointments in state government. She was a founder of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, along with her friend and ally Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson.
Not content to confine her great passion and energy to Texas, Terry Hershey was a leader in many national organizations dedicated to parks and the environment, serving as a Trustee of The National Recreation and Park Association, The Trust for Public Land, The National Audubon Society, The National Association of Flood Plain Managers and The National Recreation Foundation.
For her lifetime of service to the environment, Hershey received many awards including the prestigious Chevron Conservation Award, the Frances K. Hutchison Award from The Garden Clubs of America, the Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medal from The National Recreation Foundation and many more. She was the first person to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from Houston Wilderness and she was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 1991. In 2015, Audubon Texas established the Terry Hershey Women in Conservation Awards which recognizes the outstanding contributions to the environment made by women in Texas and supports the development of the next generation of women in conservation.
Surely, Terry Hershey's principal impact was on the landscape as she literally launched the modern conservation easement movement in Texas which allows private landowners to remain on the land while protecting their property in perpetuity. Thanks largely to her leadership, there are to nearly 40 land trusts in Texas preserving private lands across the State and hundreds of thousands of acres protected by conservation easements.
Terry Hershey was preceded in death by her husband Jake in 2000. She is survived by cousins Amie Rodnick and Sissy Farenthold, by several generations of Jake's descendants, her cat Maggie and loving caregivers Janet Spencer and Veronica Garcia.
Donations in Terry's name may be made to The Bayou Preservation Association, Planned Parenthood, The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, the Houston SPCA or the charity of your choice.
To leave a tribute in honor of Terry, please visit josephjearthman.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Joseph J. Earthman Generations Funeral Home.
What a honor to have known her.
Dee Owens-Maner
Friend
January 15, 2021
Heartfelt condolences are extended to your family at this difficult time. Seek the love and support God provides to help you cope during this time - Psalms 29:11
September 20, 2017
Mrs. Terry Hershey is one of my Dearest Friends. Terry You impacted my Life and my Spirit. You are in my Heart Forever.I Love You, Your Dear Friend,(John Mountain Lion ) John Ronald Monteleone of Jansen ColoradoPS Jeanette (Mountain Lion) Monteleone sends Her Love too.
June 23, 2017
I ask Terry what drove her to do all she did and pay for everything herself. She said, "It's my darn old Methodist up bringing." I told her I was Methodist and she said most environmentalist are. I shall always love this great lady and pray that my darn old Methodist up bringing will lead me to continue a small part of her work.
Dee Owens/Maner
May 5, 2017
Terese left a lasting imprint and legacy on the youth of Texas. Her work will be felt for years to come in their knowledge and commitment to the natural world. Camp Fire Central Texas will never forget the impact she has made for our children.
Barbara Dunnam
April 12, 2017
So sorry to hear of Terese's passing. She was my mother's first cousin. While it has been years since I last saw her, she and her activities have frequently crossed my mind. I wish peace to all the family and friends who were close to her and I am sure that she has found her peace in heaven.
Kathleen Backus Helm
Family
January 23, 2017
Terry Hershey will be missed but never forgotten because she left so much behind for future generations. She gave time, effort, leadership, and money to conservation and environmental causes. She was a remarkable and lovely woman.
Betty and Frederic Fleming
January 22, 2017
Sorry to hear of the passing of Terese. Our deep sympathy to you and your family during this difficult time. May the "God of all comfort" help you cope and give you strength and peace. 2 Corenthians 1:3,4
A B
January 21, 2017
Showing 1 - 8 of 8 results
Please consider a donation as requested by the family.
Funeral services provided by:
Joseph J. Earthman Generations Funeral Home234 Westcott St., Houston, TX 77007
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read moreWhat kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read moreWe'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreIf you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read moreLegacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreThey're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read more