Terry K. (T.K.) Arthur

Friday, January 15, 2010

Terry K. (T.K.) Arthur, age 59, of Carthage, Mo., passed away at 6:01 p.m., on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010, at Freeman West Hospital, after courageously battling through being a kidney transplant recipient and a cancer patient.

He was born on July 20, 1950, in Nevada. For more than 40 years, he was a Locomotive Engineer for Union Pacific Railroad and active in the United Transportation Union, Local No. 507. Terry was an Eagle Scout and a member of First Christian Church of Nevada. While his kids were growing up, he coached baseball. An avid fisherman and hunter, he hunted deer in his early life and later made many great friends through duck hunting. He had property in Deerfield, Mo., where they gathered to hunt at the "Duck Lake." He was also a member of Ducks Unlimited.

On Dec. 24, 1996, he married Rebecca J. (Becky) Smith Parker at Carl Junction, Mo. She survives.

Additional survivors include: daughter, Beth Arthur; son, Brian Arthur, both of Carthage; stepdaughter, Kathryn E. Hollingsworth and husband John, of Webb City, Mo.; stepson, David Matthew (Matt) Parker, of Carthage; his mother, Wanda Phipps Arthur, of Nevada; brother, Jim Arthur and wife Renee, of Cassville, Mo.; two sisters, Twila Earll and husband Jim, Renee Hampton, both of Nevada; four grandchildren, Tory, Jack, and Lexa Hollingsworth, Coco Cruz; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, James K. Arthur and a brother, Greg Arthur.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.

Memorial services will be held 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 16, at Disciples Christian Church, 125 N. Prewitt, in Nevada, with James Lyen officiating. The family will receive friends at the church from 2 p.m., Saturday, until the service hour.

Private memorial services for his "Duck Lake" friends will be held at a later date.

The family would like to thank all of the wonderful doctors, nurses and staff of Freeman Health System for their care and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, National Kidney Foundation, or Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation.