Terry Osburn, Sr.

Terry Edward Osburn Sr., age 78, passed away peacefully at his home on October 30, 2025, following a courageous battle with cancer - a fight he met with the same stubborn determination and quick wit that carried him through every chapter of his life.

Born in LaPorte, Indiana on February 18, 1947, Terry spent his childhood years in Michigan City, Indiana. He graduated from Elston High School in 1963 at 16 years old. He then attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago for two years before enlisting in the United States military at the age of 18. He was stationed in Belgium at SHAPE Headquarters (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe), where he proudly served his country and collected a lifetime's worth of stories...most of which improved with each retelling. After completing his service, Terry moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and later settled in Tahlequah, where he would spend most of his life.

During his early years in Tahlequah, he worked for Northeastern State University as the campus artist, where he met Elizabeth (Libby), the love of his life and his best audience. The couple celebrated 40 years of marriage this past September and together, they built a home filled with love, laughter, creativity, and a fair amount of good-natured teasing. Terry had a long and fulfilling career as a graphic designer, creating everything from signs to promotional materials to detailed maps of nearby cities. He also worked on movies including Where the Red Fern Grows, Doe Boy, and Finding North. He also was selected to represent Oklahoma by creating an ornament for the White House Christmas tree in 2008. His artistic eye and quirky sense of humor found their way into every project he touched and his fans always looked forward to finding his trademark VW bug which he would "hide" in his artwork

Terry also had a passion for restoring and rebuilding old cars. His proudest vehicle restorations included a 1953 Chevy Suburban (the "hunk of junk" as Libby referred to it), a 1943 Willis Army Jeep, and his latest project, a 1940s style Rat Rod.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Libby of Lost City; his children, Terry "T.J." Osburn Jr. and his wife Rachel of Ocoee, FL; Alicia Osburn Wilson and her husband Brandon Wilson of Rockport, TX; Christine Osburn of LaPorte, IN; and Jeff Osburn of Michigan City, IN. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, soon to be eight, with the highly anticipated arrival in February of Celeste, daughter of T.J. and Rachel. He is also survived by his sister, Barbara Lamont of Barrington, RI and his mother-in-law Joyce Luna, of Lost City, along with many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind many, many good friends.He was preceded in death by his father, James M. Osburn and his mother, Ilo "Dean" Scholl.

Terry will be remembered for his warmth, intelligence, and unshakable sense of humor. As his family and friends can attest, "Your constant good humor and ready wit have endeared you to all with whom you came in contact." He would want everyone who knew him to smile, share a story, and maybe tell a joke or two in his honor.

A service will be held at the Ft. Gibson National Cemetery on December 9th at 11 a.m. A celebration of life will follow from 2-4 p.m.at the home he and Libby designed and built in Lost City. He will be deeply missed, fondly remembered, and, in true Terry fashion, never entirely forgotten, because he would absolutely hate to miss all the stories being told about him now