Terry Weeks

1937 - 2025

John "Terry" Weeks of Austin, Texas passed away at home on January 25, 2025.

Terry was born on September 6, 1937 at the St. Joseph Infirmary in Houston, Texas to Herbert and Bernice Weeks. He lived in Tyler until 1948, when his family moved to Austin. His family moved to Corpus Christi when he was a teenager, where he graduated from Ray High School. At Ray, he met his English teacher, Maureen McElroy, whom he would go on to study under at both Del Mar College in Corpus and the University of Texas at Austin.

Terry earned three degrees at UT: a B.A. and M.A. in English Literature, and his L.L.B. (Bachelor of Laws). Terry was admitted to the Bar in 1967 and began his legal career at Legal Aid in Austin. The Chief Juvenile Probation Officer for Travis County, Bill Anderson, appointed Terry as the first juvenile court attorney where Terry was instrumental in establishing the first juvenile justice system where defendants had full, independent legal representation.

Terry litigated an exceptionally broad range of cases, but his primary area of practice was family law. Terry was among the first 99 attorneys to become Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. In the following decades, Terry represented thousands of families in central Texas.

Terry was a formidable force in the courtroom and was widely regarded as one of the foremost lawyers by his colleagues and judges alike.

Generations of new lawyers found an eager mentor in Terry. In a profession where veterans often have little patience for novices, Terry actively sought them out. He sometimes compared newly-licensed attorneys to puppies: they might get their muddy paws on you at first, but as long as they were willing to learn, he could sharpen the right instincts. Some of the best trial lawyers and judges credit Terry's mentorship as the cornerstone of their success.

Terry stood apart from his own "Silent Generation", named for its conformist tendencies and aversion to controversy, traits completely at odds with Terry's character. He was among the first (and few) to stand outside a theater in Austin protesting segregation in a day when standing up for justice was far more likely to result in violence than applause.

A renaissance man in the truest sense of the term, Terry was knowledgeable in an astonishing breadth of subjects: he could readily identify a vast array of birds, butterflies and plants, he knew countless poems and hymns by heart. Even after a series of strokes impaired his speech, his mind remained sharp, as evidenced by his half-whispered answers to Jeopardy questions from his bed - questions that stumped the others in the room.

Terry was an avid sailor and captained many voyages with close friends and family. His journeys included trips from Key West to Havana, and from the Isla Mujeres to the end of Grenada.

Perhaps his strongest passion was the many dogs who were his constant companions throughout his life. There was undoubtedly a large, enthusiastic pack there to greet him when he passed.

Terry is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Linda Woodland. He is survived by his loving wife, Kay Mailander; sister, Martha Ginn; children, Mandy Weeks, Monica Coggin, Jose Diaz, and Charles Deschodt; and grandchildren, Lena Coggin, Mason Coggin and Genevieve Moss.

For those who would like to write a tribute or share memories of Terry, please visit Terry's CaringBridge.org and search for "Terry Weeks". A Celebration of Life for Terry will be held at Scholz Garten, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd, 78701, on February 16th from 12:00 p.m. Wear your white shirts, jeans, and cowboy boots! In lieu of flowers, Terry has requested donations to Austin Pets Alive!, SPCA of Texas, or Austin Animal Center.