- Date Of Birth: July 19, 1942
- Date Of Death: April 19, 2020
- State: Idaho
Terry Lee Hopkins, 77, of Nampa, passed away at his home on Sunday, April 19, 2020 from natural causes.
Terry was born on July 19, 1942 in Denver, CO and his family of 5 moved while Terry was in the 7th grade to King Hill, ID. The family lived in a small room above the Post Office with an Uncle’s family and that was quite a culture shock. They later moved to Gooding, ID and Terry graduated from Gooding High School in 1960. On his 18th birthday Terry joined the US Marine Corps and became a jet mechanic and joined the base football team at El Toro in Santa Ana, CA. The football team played at the LA Coliseum, Berkeley Stadium on the University of CA and at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. His second year in the Marines he was stationed at Atsugi, Japan where he was the team quarterback until a knee injury sidelined him. Following his honorable discharge from the US Marine Corps he married Kay Quane and they had 2 children, Terryl (Hopkins) Wills and Ryan Hopkins. He was accepted at Taft Junior College where the football team was ranked first in the nation several times. Following graduation Terry received a scholarship from Idaho State University where another knee injury ended his football career as a player. In 1970 Terry began his employment at the Pocatello School District where he taught history, coached football and wrestling. In 1980 he was hired as the Varsity Football Coach at Highland High School where he and his teams won several state championships.
In 1985 he married Maureen McCain Beck and gained 2 more sons, Sean D. Beck and Jason F. Beck (Lisa). They moved to Nampa and he was hired at Nampa High School where he taught US History and coached sophomore football. Varsity football was Terry’s next challenge. Terry and his coaches worked hard to instill pride in the football players at Nampa High School. They became a powerhouse team in the Treasure Valley competing and winning against long time rivals. He also coached track and wrestling. When Skyview High School opened he transferred there to teach US History until he retired.
Terry is survived by his wife, Maureen; daughter, Terryl Wills (Brandon); son, Ryan Hopkins (Audrey); stepsons, Sean Beck and Jason Beck (Lisa); brother, Randy Hopkins; sister, Dixie Brinkman; 8 grandchildren, Brenn, Sam, Conner, Aidan, Davis, Caleb, Taris and Ethan and a number of nieces and nephews. Terry was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Lois Hopkins; brother, James Hopkins and sister, Peg McGuire.
