Terry was born to Vanus and June (Fuller) Patterson on 01 October 1961 in Kansas City, Missouri. When she was three her family moved to Oklahoma. It was evident from an early age that she was going to be a self-starter. She taught herself how to do cartwheels and then taught herself gymnastics. She attended Oklahoma City Public Schools and graduated in 1979 from John Marshall High School.

Terry also taught herself 10-key and bookkeeping. She worked as a Legal Assistant for Attorney Chuck Moss for many years. Terry loved family gatherings, having parties and going to the movies. She expecially loved her faithful pet companion, Lucy. Terry was a strong Christian woman who loved God and loved helping anyone in their time of need.

Terry married Richard Lilly on 29 June 1991.

Terry is preceded in death by her father.

She is survived by her husband. Her mother, June DeFriese and step-father Dick DeFriese of Blanchard. Her two daughters, Amy Lilly of Oklahoma City and Ashley Freeman and her husband Nathan of Blanchard. Her son, Jonathan Jackson and his wife Linsay of Yukon. Three sisters: Bonnie Yarbrough of Piedmont, Connie Hill of Tuttle, and Vanessa Smith of Yukon. And her dear friend who was like a father figure to her, Chuck Moss of Oklahoma City along with a host of other family and friends.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 1:30 pm at First Baptist Church in Newcastle. Servicing as pallbearers were Chris Milam, Charlie Lilly, John Lilly, John Yarbrough, Nathan Freeman and Nick Flesher. Burial was at Newcastle Memorial Gardens Cemetery.