Terry Lee Cummings Obituary (1950 - 2023)

Born Aug 13, 1950, Terry Lee Cummings attended Charlevoix High School in Charlevoix, MI. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Terry Lee Cummings.

Graduation Year	Class of 1969
Date of Birth	Aug 13, 1950
Date of Passing	Mar 03, 2023
About	Terry Lee Cummings, age 72, of Lake Suzy, Florida and Charlevoix, Michigan passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 3rd, 2023 after a long, brave battle with Parkinson's. He was born and raised in Charlevoix. The farm on Barnard Road was home. As a kid and teen, Terry enjoyed playing baseball for the Barnard Braves, shooting skeet, and racing motorcycles. In 1966 he met Becky Williams on the school bus and married that girl in 1970. After high school he went to work for a cement company and then became a journeyman plumber and went to work for Haggard's Plumbing and Heating. In 1984, the Cummings family headed north to Alaska. Terry got into white water rafting, trapping, and dog mushing. The latter turned into quite a business venture after he designed and manufactured his very first aluminum headlamp for Rick Swenson. These headlamps ended up being used worldwide by famous dog mushers who competed in the Iditarod and Yukon Quest sled dog races. Later he developed a love for border collies, bought some sheep, and spent his spare time herding those sheep. He was also drawn into woodworking and made some amazing pieces, small and large, for family and friends. In 2017, he retired from NOAA. He took Becky back down the Alcan Highway, or more likely she took him, and they spent winters in Lake Suzy and the summers in Charlevoix. Terry was proceeded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Sara Cummings. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Becky, his 3 children, Jessica of Edinburgh, Scotland, Jon of Fairbanks, AK, and Andrea of Anchorage, AK, 4 grandchildren, Adalyn, Finley, Bexley, and Zenovia, and his siblings, Herb (Ginny), MaryAnn (Ron), and Marilyn (John). There will be a celebration of life for Terry on Saturday August 5th at 11am at the Ironton Congregational Church. The family requests that everyone wear bright colors in remembrance of Terry. At 2pm everyone is invited to a potluck BBQ at the Cummings farm on Barnard Road. Please bring a dish to share and BYOB. We'll be toasting Terry with shots of Jack Daniels or a Coke if you prefer. In lieu of flowers, the family would love donations to the Parkinson's Foundation in Terry's name.