Where Food, Drinks & Stories Are Shared
//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/139297/139297-life-panel.jpg

Terry Scahill

October 11, 1946 - March 4, 2022
Kalamazoo, MI

//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/139297/139297-01.jpg



Life Story Visitation

Saturday, March 19, 2022
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM EDT
Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes
Kalamazoo Location
6080 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 375-2900

Please join us for a Life Story Visitation where food, drinks, and stories will be shared.

Driving Directions

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Alzheimer's Association - Michigan Great Lakes Chapter
200 Turwill Ln Suite 6
Kalamazoo, MI 49006
(269) 342-1482
Driving Directions
Web Site

Centrica Care Navigators (formerly Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan)
7100 Stadium Dr
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 345-0273
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ambati
1830 S. Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 349-4961
Driving Directions
Web Site

Taylor's Florist and Gifts
215 E. Michigan Ave.
Paw Paw, MI 49079
(269) 657-6256
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/view-life-story-video.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/139297/139297-02.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/139297/139297-03.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/139297/139297-04.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/139297/139297-05.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/download-memory-folder.jpg
Print

A kind, gentle soul, Terry Scahill was a wonderful man to know and love. The love he had for his family was to be admired, as was his hard work ethic which provided for those entrusted to his care. With his wonderful sense of humor, Terry was an interesting and intelligent fellow who found appreciation in many things, and all life had to offer. A man of strong values, he was a man of his word. Through his unwavering kindness and consideration of those around him, Terry was someone with whom others could depend, whether it was his family, friends, or the many students he encountered along life’s way. He lived with honor and integrity, yet his humble nature was an example to all who had the privilege of loving and knowing him. Dearly missed, gone but never to be forgotten are the wonderful memories Terry leaves behind.

The end of World War II was a time of great celebration. Young servicemen came home to marry their sweethearts, and the “baby boom” was officially launched. Families moved into newly developed suburbs, and U.S. manufacturers quickly turned at-war production into post-war innovations to meet heightened demand for consumer goods. Now a time to begin anew with hopes and dreams for the future, this was especially true for Earl and Virginia (Friedmann) Scahill as they celebrated the October 11, 1946, birth of their little boy, Terrence. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and raised in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, young Terrence was an only child who brought his parents joy as they raised him in a home devout to their Catholic faith.

A young boy of his generation, Terry was a likable boy and shared numerous friendships throughout his youth, finding his share of shenanigans as young boy’s often do. From his earliest years, he had a competitive spirit which remained throughout his life. He attended the local Catholic schools and while his mother had aspirations of him becoming a priest, and as much as he loved his mom, he knew that wasn’t the path for him.

Terry went on to graduate from Xavier University where he played on the baseball team as a left-handed pitcher. He furthered his education by attending graduate school at the University of Kentucky earning a Ph.D. in Chemistry. It was during this time he taught chemistry to medical school students. Easily admired, Terry possessed a way of sharing his knowledge and could readily explain things in a natural and comprehensive way for others to understand. He enjoyed helping students immensely, especially when it came to understanding the often times complex course material. Terry eventually found a passion for medical research and made his career as a senior medical research scientist for the Upjohn Company in Kalamazoo, Michigan, now known as Pfizer from where he later retired. Although an extremely intelligent man in every sense, Terry had a way of blending his quick wit and warm, loving ways in all he said and did.

Before long, Terry married and began a family of his own. Even though his marriage eventually came to an end, Terry was blessed with the births of two sons from this union. Terrence and Christopher were the delight of Terry’s life. He was an involved father as much as he could be and supported his sons in Boy Scouts and all their activities.

Terry always had a passion for cars and the faster the better! He owned a 1985 Corvette, and one of his biggest thrills was beating any Mustang that happened to challenge him. Through the years he enjoyed many trips to the Gilmore Car Museum and was also a member of the Upjohn Corvette Club. He was quite fond of Jeeps, as well, and would enjoy chasing after steam engines to watch them at the next train crossing. He came to share his love of fast cars and red Jeeps with both of his sons, and they inherited his highly detailed attention to vehicle maintenance. College sports was also a passion he shared with his sons. Terry could be found in front of the television vigorously rooting for Xavier or University of Kentucky basketball and Notre Dame football.

Terry came to share a deep, abiding love in the heart of Carol Sander. They met at a concert at Pine Knob Amphitheatre in nearby Clarkston, Michigan and their attraction for one another was immediate and magnetic. Inseparable from the beginning, Terry and Carol were happily married in September of 2000. Terry welcomed Carol’s two sons into his family and together they all enjoyed numerous holidays and other special occasions, making countless memories in the years that followed.

A special man in many regards, Terry had diverse interests and continued his love for cars throughout his life. He also had a love for animals, especially cats, and with ways all his own, he could share a conversation with anyone about nearly anything. His competitive nature never waned, even when it came to beating his son or grandson at a game of chess! For many years he enjoyed biking, especially along the Kal-Haven trail. He remained fit and for the most part, led a healthy lifestyle despite his addiction to chocolate. He and his stepson, David would often compare notes on their favorite chocolate ice creams. A clear winner was always Death by Chocolate, but deciding the more chocolate in something, always the better!

Terry was an avid reader and collected children’s books, particularly Seckatary Hawkins books which reminded him of his childhood along the Ohio River. He loved to read and had a beautiful book collection. One of his favorite authors was J.R.R. Tolkien. Terry was truly a scholar of The Lord of the Rings, keeping detailed notes and maps of Middle Earth and even owning a numbered replica of Aragon’s sword! When it came to travel, San Diego, California was Terry’s favorite vacation spot. With his curious nature and interests far and wide, he loved driving through the military cemetery there, amazed by the vast fields of perfectly aligned markers and enjoyed watching the occasional submarine or Navy ship making its way through the channel. With his love of art, Terry came to appreciate many art genres. He took in everything from a classic Monet or Renoir to the whimsical Calvin and Hobbs. Sometimes, while on vacation he’d see a piece that especially caught his eye and he’d purchase it and have it shipped home.

Terry was an audiophile, building his own Heath Kit Receiver and Oscilloscope. And anyone who knew Terry soon became aware of his passion for music. His taste ran from AC-DC, Pink Floyd, a deep love of Jethro Tull, and all the way across the rock and roll spectrum to Carmina Burana.

There was no one quite like Terry Scahill. A man of many interests, talents, and ambitions, he lived with integrity and a warm, loving heart. He always said to give more than to receive, and in Terry’s life, this spoke volumes of his integrity, kindness and consideration of others. Terry expelled a warmth and kindness to all he encountered, and it was clearly a way in which he exemplified his love and care. He could light up a room with his quick smile and sense of humor, and for these things and so much more, he will be fondly remembered and missed.

Terrence A. Scahill of Portage, age 75, died on Friday, March 4, 2022. Terry was preceded in death by his parents. Surviving are his wife, Carol; two sons: Terrence (Lisa) Scahill and Christopher (Yvonne) Scahill; two stepsons: David (Kristen) Kreienkamp and Scot (Julie) Kreienkamp; and grandchildren: Zachary, Garrett, Niko, Carlie, Mina, Jack and Claire. Cremation has taken place. Please join us at a Life Story Visitation where food, drinks, and stories will be shared on Saturday, March 19, 2022, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Home, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo 269-375-2900. Please visit Terry’s webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com to archive favorite memories, photos, and sign Terry's guest book. Memorial contributions in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Centrica Care Navigators.

//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/view-life-story-video.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/139297/139297-02.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/139297/139297-03.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/139297/139297-04.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/139297/139297-05.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/download-memory-folder.jpg