Funeral for Geneva “Sue” Bates Terry, 85 of Decatur was Fri., July 25, at 3 p.m. at Roselawn Funeral home with the Rev. Tom Salter officiating.

Burial was in Roselawn Cemetery.

Mrs. Terry was born Sept. 8, 1929, in Morgan County to William Burt and Lillie Bates. She was a graduate of Eva High School and Albright Business College. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Decatur for over 60 years.

In the 1950’s, Mrs. Terry began her career as a runway model for Buttrey’s Department Store. Later, Mrs. Terry retired after 35 years of employment as store manager for Lorch Diamond Center, where she won numerous awards for her service including company-wide Manager of the Year. She worked hard her entire life and made sure to instill the same work ethic in her children.

Mrs. Terry’s children and grandchildren were her pride and joy and cherished spending time with them. Her hobbies included interior decorating, collecting antiques, quilting, Alabama football, cooking, and vegetable and flower gardening. She is well known for her fried chicken and made sure that no one ever left her home hungry or empty handed. Her love for her gardening led to her help in establishing Great Expectations Greenhouse, a non-profit organization, benefiting the Mental Health Center of North Central Alabama, after retirement.

Mrs. Terry is preceded in death by her parents; son, Russell Neal Terry; granddaughter, Jessica Terry Evans; (Lawrence “Pete”); two sisters, Berta Brown and Eula Benefield; two brothers, Elsworth Bates and William Bates; and her children’s father, O’Neal Terry.

She is survived by three daughters, Jan Terry Hamilton (Mike) of Trinity; Pegy Terry Carden (Danny) of Hartselle and Lisa Terry Cagle (Mike) of Decatur; five grandchildren, Susan Hamilton, Mitchell (Jon) of Millbrook, Michael Hamilton Jr. (Courtney) of Trussville; Danielle Carden of Hartselle, Nick Terry (Kayla) of Lafayette, Ga.; and Craig Carden (Rosie) of Tampa Fla.; five great grandchildren, Harrison Mitchell, Caroline Mitchell, Michael Hamilton III, Sammy Carden and McKinley Terry; stepson, Bobby Lawrence Terry (Glenda) of Trinity; and step-daughter, Kim Terry Daily (Greg) of Jasper, Ind.

Pallbearers were Mike Hamilton, Danny Carden, Mike Cagle, Michael Hamilton Jr., Jon Mitchell, Nick Terry and Craig Carden.

The family wishes to express special thanks to the staff of Morningside Assisted Living, the ICU and fourth floor staff of Decatur Morgan Hospital, Evelyn Cohn and Dr. Roger Moss.