Terry Bryan Ooten

1964 - 2014

Terry Bryan Ooten

Terry Bryan Ooten, 49, of Tallahassee, passed away Saturday, February 8, 2014.

A celebration of his life will be held in a memorial service at Wildwood Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee on Thursday, February 13th at 2:00 pm. A burial service will be held immediately following at MeadowWood Memorial Park, Timberlane Road. Bevis Funeral Home (www.bevisfh.com or 850/385.2193) is handling the arrangements.

A native of Chattanooga, TN, Terry lived in Tallahassee since 1969. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1986. He studied at Florida State University and The University of Florida, graduating with an engineering degree. Among other businesses owned, he was the president of Trademark Development and Construction. He was a member of the Capital Tiger Bay Club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Terry loved his children with all of his heart, and supported his family and all of their activities. He went above and beyond in caring for his children. He was an avid supporter of his daughter Olivia, and her passions throughout her life including Maclay girls' soccer, running, and traveling. He was very involved as she grew up. Terry was Mr. Science in Kindergarten and would come in and do experiments in Olivia's class. Terry was also the leader of the Indian Princesses, and contributed a lot to Brownies.

Terry also supported his son, TJ Ooten, in every way possible. Terry faithfully followed TJ's baseball teams, football teams, basketball teams, tennis teams, track team, and Cub Scouts throughout TJ's childhood. Terry would always be more than willing to host parties for his children, and he would often be the life of the party, cooking food for anybody who wanted it.

Other than his family, his great joys in life were traveling, cooking, and flying. Terry taught cooking classes at Publix in his spare time, and he loved inventing new recipes and entertaining people. He was always making plans for the next place that his family wanted to visit. He believed in exposing his children to the world, and letting them experience different people and cultures as they grew up. Terry was a kind hearted, optimistic person who always had a positive outlook on life and a warm smile for everyone.

He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Melissa Ooten, a son Terry Bryan Ooten, Jr. (TJ), 21, a daughter Olivia Madison Ooten, 18, his father Homer Ooten, his sister Cynthia (Cindy) Ooten Milne (Ian Milne), his nephew Alexander Milne, mother-in-law Linda Mings (Lonnie Mings), father-in-law David Wood, sister-in-law Susan Wood, and a host of other family members and friends. He was preceded by his mother Pamela Ooten.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fellowship of Christian Athletes or FL. Baptist Children's Home.