Terry Lynn Larrabee

Terry Lynn Larrabee (1954–2025)

Terry, 70, passed away on October 9th, 2025. He was born November 5, 1954 to William Robert & Linda Lee Larrabee in Marion, Illinois. Terry was a management IT Specialist at Caterpillar, Inc. and served at Kennel Lake Sportsman's Club as executive director and treasurer. Terry received his Bachelor and Master degrees in Accounting from Illinois State University and also received his Master of Business Administration from Bradley University. Terry was a registered Certified Public Accountant and previously taught accounting at Illinois Central College.

Notes from his daughters, Tori & Tara:

TORI - "My daddy was my everything, my best friend, my world, and my soul. There are no words big enough to describe him, but if I had to choose, I'd say he was love in its purest form. His entire world revolved around his daughters, and everything he did was for us. He went through more than most people could ever imagine, but he always found the strength to keep going because he wanted his girls to have a better life. He was the strongest man I've ever known. He didn't cry often, but when he did, it was during the moments that mattered most, like my performances, our graduations, and the milestones that made him proud. He was tough when he needed to be, but beneath that was the softest, kindest soul. He loved deeply and quietly, and he gave without ever asking for anything in return. He made people feel safe just by being near him.

My dad was the most generous person I've ever known. He helped anyone without hesitation, giving food, shelter, and comfort to people when they had nowhere else to go. His heart stretched far beyond himself, even if he didn't always show it out loud. What he didn't have in money, he made up for a million times over in love. He spoiled us emotionally in ways I can never repay. He made me feel welcome every time I came home, but he also encouraged me to build my own life. He pushed me hard, but always with love. He was tough on me because I asked him to be, and even when I said I needed a break, he still gave me one more gentle push to keep me moving forward. He always knew what I needed, even when I didn't. Everything he did was for my sister and me. He built a life that allowed us to grow and thrive, brick by brick, so we'd always have a place to stand. He made me feel like the prettiest, smartest, most capable person in the world. He saw things in me that I couldn't see in myself, and he believed in me so completely that it made me start believing too. When I doubted myself, he reminded me who I was, because he helped shape who I am. His confidence in me was unshakable, and it gave me a kind of strength I didn't even know I had.

Even when I moved two hours away, we talked every single day. It didn't matter what time it was; he always answered. He just needed to know we were safe. He was our safety net, our constant, our home. He wasn't just my dad; he was my mentor, my idol, and my soul tie. I used to tell him, "Your soul is mine," and he'd smile and say, "Then mine is yours." We didn't have a normal father-daughter relationship. It was something deeper, something sacred. He knew every version of me and loved them all. He answered every call, always. If he didn't, I'd start calling my sister or mom to check on him. He was the most dependable person I've ever known. If I had to be up at two in the morning, he'd set an alarm to call me and then call again fifteen minutes later to make sure I was awake. I sent him every appointment, every photo, and every small victory. Every first day of school, I took a picture just for him. We even had a password every time we called. He would answer with, "What's the password?" and wait for me to say it before we started talking. It was small and silly, but so full of love. We were complete opposites, and that's exactly why we worked. I could read him completely, and he could do the same for me. I could come to him a complete mess, crying and falling apart, and within minutes he would have me laughing again. He knew how to bring me back every single time.

He knew me better than anyone. He could always tell what I was going to do next. He knew I'd go to the college I did, that I'd move out earlier than I planned, and that I'd end up wanting to become a teacher. I'm so grateful that before he left, he saw me find my passion and decide on my path. He was so proud, even if he didn't say it outright; I could feel it. He loved animals, even though he liked to pretend he didn't. If I left him alone with my dog, I'd come back to find the dog curled up in his lap, with him pretending it wasn't on purpose. When the time came for him to go, he held on for us. He gave us time to cry, to hold his hand, and to nap beside him one more time like we did when we were little. Even at the end, he was still taking care of us. He prepared me for life in ways I didn't understand until now. Every talk in the kitchen, every long goodbye, every quiet "I love you" was his way of making sure we would be okay.

When the time came for him to go, he held on. He gave us time. Time to cry, to hold his hand, to nap beside him one more time. Even at the end, he was still taking care of us. My dad was the strongest man I've ever known, and that strength runs in me because of him. He prepared me for life in ways I didn't understand until now. Every "congregation" in the kitchen, every talk, every 3 hour long goodbye, they were all his way of making sure we'd be okay. And even now, I know he's still here; in every breath, every decision, every moment. He is my light. He always will be.

But now that he's gone, it feels like something inside me has split apart. I feel hollow without him. I don't just miss my dad; I miss the part of me that existed only because of him. My chest aches with every breath because he's not here. My heart races because it's trying to adjust to carrying his heart inside mine. I am completely shattered, completely gutted, because when he left, he took half of my soul with him. I don't know how to live in a world without him. He was the best man I have ever known and ever will know. There will never be another like him, and there will never be a day I don't ache to hear his voice, to see his smile, to feel his hug, to just call him one more time. I don't know how to fill the silence that he used to fill so effortlessly. But I know he's still with me, in every heartbeat, every breath, every flash of strength I can still find. I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make him proud, because he's still here, living through me. And I know he would never have left if he didn't believe I could survive this. Even if I can't feel it yet, I know that because of him, someday I will be okay."

TARA - "My dad wasn't just my father. He was my best friend, my home, and my safe place. We had a connection that didn't need words. I could feel him, and he could feel me. Even when we were both being stubborn or strong-willed, it never drove us apart. It made us stronger. We were so alike that we balanced each other perfectly, like two pieces of the same soul that finally fit. We worked in sync without ever having to plan it. He would start something, and I would know exactly how to finish it. I could read his moods, his tone, even his silences. We understood each other's rhythms in a way that made life feel easier. When we needed space, we gave it. When we didn't, we could talk for hours about anything and everything. Once a conversation started, it was like something sparked between us, and it could go on forever.

He wasn't naturally a people person, but he would do anything for me, even the things he didn't want to. He took on the hard parts just to make things easier for me because he understood. I could tell him anything: every thought, every fear, every joy. Talking to him felt like talking to myself. There was never judgment, only understanding. When we argued, it was because we cared. We were passionate, fiery, and emotional people, but no matter how intense it got, we always came back together. We would cry it out, talk it through, and end up even closer. Everything between us came from love. He answered every call, no matter the time or reason. He was my rock and my constant. He carried not only his own emotions but mine too. When something was wrong or something good happened, we didn't have to say it. We just knew. He had this quiet way of showing love in the small moments. He made my coffee in the morning and made sure the things I needed were always stocked. We said "I love you" every single day, even in passing.  Those simple things were love in motion. Even when I wasn't home, his presence lingered in the details, in the comfort of knowing he was always there.

We shared so many of the same interests. We would go stargazing and talk about NASA, fantasy, aliens, science fiction, and biology. He loved hearing about my classes so much that he joked about going back to college. Sometimes he came with me to campus, or he would sit beside me while I watched my online lectures. He could tell you about every class I was taking because he listened, he cared, and he learned with me. We were always learning together. I even got a tattoo of his favorite flower, echinacea. It was his favorite because of its immune-boosting properties, which feels fitting for someone who was always trying to make things stronger, better, and more alive.

He pushed me when I needed it but never too far. Instead, he quietly guided me toward my own path. He had this way of keeping me on track without making it feel too pushy. It was gentle, invisible, and always exactly what I needed. He built the foundation that I now have to rebuild from, but he gave me everything I needed to do it. He is the reason I am who I am. He didn't just raise me; he shaped me. He taught me that strength isn't about being unshakable. It is about feeling everything and standing tall anyway. He helped people quietly, without ever wanting recognition. He showed up for others when no one else did, and unless you were close to him, you might never realize how much he gave. He was always checking that we were safe, always making sure we were okay. He never wanted to be a burden, even though he never was. He would have given up everything for us.

He was curious, witty, and always searching for answers. If I was building a website, he would try to break it, not to frustrate me but to help me make it better. He wanted to understand how things worked, to dig deeper, and to improve them in ways no one else thought to. That same curiosity extended beyond computers and projects. He loved space and storms and would go outside during tornado warnings just to watch the sky. He lived with a sense of wonder and wanted to experience life up close, no matter the risk. He always said, "Work hard, play harder." He loved the things that made him think and dream, like Star Trek, Doctor Who, Stranger Things, Wednesday, and Skinwalker Ranch. He was funny, stubborn, brilliant, and caring all at once. Beneath his rough edges, he had the gentlest heart. From the outside, people might have thought he was tough, but if you knew him, you saw the truth. He was compassionate, selfless, and endlessly kind. He wasn't just my dad; he was my home, my heart, my person, and my hero.

He will always be a part of me. He is woven into everything I am. Every time I look at the stars, I will think of him. Every time I feel strength rise up when I am scared, I will know it is him. He taught me how to love deeply, how to stay curious, and how to live with meaning. He lives in the way I love, the way I learn, and the way I keep moving forward. He is forever with me."

Terry will always be remembered for his empathy and the way that he always helped those around him. We'll always imagine hearing them say, "'don't worry, be happy'" one more time. We couldn't have asked for a better father, and will miss Terry every day. His memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved him.

Terry married Kimberly Sue Lindsay in 2000 and she survives. Terry is also survived by his mother, his daughters Tara Lyn & Tori LeAnne Larrabee, and his stepsons Devin & Ryan Durst.

Cremation rites have been accorded. No funeral services will occur. A private celebration of life will be planned at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes contributions to their GoFundMe or the sharing of memories and mementos that celebrate his life and the love he gave to others.

Go Fund Me link:  https://gofund.me/1aa4b59b0

Terry Larrabee Go Fund Me
Morton IL 61550
Web: https://gofund.me/1aa4b59b0