Laura Lee Cantwell Terry, wife, mother, sister, teacher and friend, died Aug. 9, 2026, after a long battle with cancer at her Fort Worth home.

The daughter of Geraldine P’Pool Cantwell and Albert Lee Cantwell, she was born Aug. 29, 1962, in Dallas, TX. Baptized at First United Methodist Church of Dallas, she attended Dallas’ Dan D. Rogers Elementary School, Benjamin Franklin Junior High School and Hillcrest High School. From the start, she carried an easy smile and a quick, unmistakable laugh, making her a warm presence wherever she went.

As a child, this tomboy, who ran barefoot through the grass and biked through the neighborhood, once wanted to become a professional football player. Her love of music flourished throughout her life whether it was church choir, school choir or the esteemed Longhorn Singers, the official show choir at the University of Texas.

Seeing the UT marching band perform was what convinced her to follow her parents’ lead and enroll at their alma mater, UT. There she joined Delta Gamma sorority, as her mother had, and made lifelong friends. After changing majors seven times, Laura finally found her calling in elementary education, focusing on math.

Searching for a ticket to a UT football game against Texas A&M University reconnected her to a high school beau, Bruce Terry. The two were married May 25, 1985, at First United Methodist Church of Dallas. The happy couple left their reception by helicopter, and 20 years later Bruce celebrated their anniversary by whisking his bride away again via helicopter, this time from the campus where she taught.

Laura was the proud mother of two sons, Brian Bruce and Andrew Lee, and she loved showing them the world, especially national parks and all their beauty. One of her greatest joys was being the fifth-grade math teacher for both boys, a treasured memory.

Education remained a lifelong passion, both inside an official classroom and in other capacities. She first taught at Wallace Elementary School in Richardson, TX in the 1980s, then taught in Concord, NH, while Bruce was in law school. When the Terrys returned to Fort Worth, she worked as the assistant to Rev. David David, the youth minister at First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth. Her warm personality and friendly demeanor were put to good use as she planned mission trips and organized youth activities.

She combined her love of youth, math and education when she became a fifth grade math teacher at Fort Worth Country Day School. Her fondness for football influenced her teaching standards—no homework on Monday night when there was a Monday Night Football Game to be viewed.

As Fifth Grade Team Leader at Country Day, she employed her sense of humor, friendliness and intelligence to coordinate field trips, support new teachers and planning activities. In 2021, she was proud to be inducted into Club Viginti, a Country Day award recognizing 20 years of service to the school, although she went on to work there several years more.

Laura’s faith was important to her, too. She remained an active member of First United Methodist Church’s Good Neighbors Sunday School Class and the Eve Circle of the United Methodist Women. Her superior deviled eggs were requested for every event, and her high-spirited, exuberant and enthusiastic laugh was unforgettable. Her daily goal, though, was to brighten someone’s day. Kind, caring and steady, Laura was quick to make friends.

The things she loved were broad and wide. Foods such as Blue Bell chocolate ice cream, fried shrimp, Snickers bars, plain hamburgers and, of course, a good steak and baked potato dinner were her favorites. She found happiness in simple pleasures like clean sheets, sandy beaches, backyard gardening, good books and, of course, TV football. Just as much she liked niceties too. Everything from fine china to pedicures to Broadway musicals to first-class air travel and five-star hotels topped her favorites’ list.

Traveling was important to Laura, too. She was an A+ travel planner, spending months researching the places, the activities and the food for trips. She had an eclectic taste in selecting each vacation, whether it was a river cruise down the Danube or the SpaceX rocket launch or the Westminster Dog Show.

At the top of her favorites, though, are her family members. She is survived by Bruce, her husband of 41 years; her sons, Brian and Andrew; her brother, Casey Cantwell; and brother-in-law Mark Terry. She loved her friends, too, and her wish was that they celebrate her life with tacos and Arnold Palmers.

Her celebration of life--complete with tacos and Arnold Palmers--is set for 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, the day after what would have been her 64th birthday, in Wesley Hall of First United Methodist Church.

Those wishing to donate in Laura’s memory are invited to contribute to Cancer Research Institute at the website fundraise.cancerresearch.org/LauraTerry.