Terri Blake

Terri Irene Quickel Blake, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend passed away peacefully on Monday, July 4, 2022, after a courageous 17-month battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia surrounded by family. She was 70.  Terri was born March 16, 1952 in Lincoln County as the oldest child to Helen Irene Brown Quickel Sides and the late Lewis Alvin Quickel.  Terri was defined by the love of her family, her service to her community, her excellence as a Certified Public Accountant, her commitment and care for her clients, which was buoyed by her faithfulness as a Godly woman of faith.

She grew up and spent the majority of her life in Lincoln County where she was a pillar and servant of the Lincolnton community.  Upon graduation from West Lincoln High School and after years as a homemaker, she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting.  She went on to become a Certified Public Accountant after her graduation.  She faithfully worked and was a lead partner at Sherrill, Blake, Harrison CPA/PA for 40 years.  She was known for working at all hours of the night and if you saw her corner light on at 2:00 AM during tax season and were a client, rest assured she was likely checking and finalizing your return.  She was particular in everything that she did.  Coupled with her commitment to her accounting practice, Terri gave of herself to many endeavors in the Lincolnton community.  She served in a myriad of capacities through the years with the Hesed House of Hope, Inc., Lincoln County Coalition Against Child Abuse, Lincoln County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Lincoln County Community Foundation, Lincolnton – Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council, and the Carolina Trust Bank board.  Never a person wanting public acknowledgement for her service, her efforts were recognized at various times as the Lincoln County Small Business Woman of the Year (2009), Lincoln County Woman of the Year (2013), and the Ola Mae Foster Award recipient (2018).  She seemed to know everyone in Lincoln County and there was never a short trip to the store or a restaurant.  She invariably would run into someone that she knew and the conversations would begin and time was forgotten.

While Terri’s professional life was a significant part of her life, her role as the centerpiece of our family and as a faithful member and believer of her church was even more critical.  She was a faithful wife and partner to Ron for almost 40 years.  They were the best of friends, where traveling and discovering new things was always around the corner.  She was an unbelievable mother (the absolute best) to four children, Chris, Tracy, Matthew, and Brian where we all relied on her love and counsel in everything that we did.  The best Nana to eight wonderful grandchildren, Cory, Chelsea, Victoria, Cameron, Beckham, Elan, Schuyler, and Oliver, where nothing was ever too expensive or too far to do.  In addition, she faithfully served at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at Crouse, her entire life.  She was the organist from the age of 12, the long standing church treasurer, as well as the treasurer for the North Carolina Lutheran Synod for a number of years.  She was dearly loved by her church community.  If the doors were open, Terri was there to serve her church.

Survivors include her husband, Glenn “Ron” Blake; children, Chris Blake (Nikki), Tracy Barger (Daniel), Matthew Eurey (Krista), and Brian Blake (Sarah); mother, Helen Brown Sides; grandchildren, Cory Blake, Chelsea Blake, Victoria Barger, Cameron Blake, Beckham Eurey, Elan Eurey, Schuyler Blake, and Oliver Blake; and siblings, Lewis Quickel Jr. (Phyllis), and Kim Baker (Mike).

The family will receive friends Thursday, July 7, 2022, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Carpenter-Porter Funeral & Cremation Services in Cherryville.  Funeral services will be held Friday, July 8, 2022, at 1:00 PM at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Crouse with Pastor Rick Sloop officiating.  Burial will follow at Hollybrook Cemetery in Lincolnton.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, PO Box 131, Crouse, NC 28033.

Condolences may be made to www.carpenterporter.com.