Terry Lehnis

Terry Francis Lehnis was born February 16, 1943 in Cleveland Ohio to Milton and Dorothy Lehnis. He passed peacefully on May 25, 2021 in Palm Springs CA at the age of 78. Terry lived in the family home in Lakewood, OH until age thirteen when they relocated to Danville IL. He attended Schlarman Catholic High School, graduating in 1960. Terry received his MSW from the University of Michigan in 1971 after previously attending music school and answering a calling to be a priest. He left the seminary to switch gears and become a mental health therapist. He married Shirlee Jenks in 1969 and their daughter Julie Anne Lehnis was born in 1972. After leaving the Midwest and settling in Seattle WA and eventually Olympia WA Terry spent his career as a mental health therapist with Group Health Cooperative. GHC was his employer from 1972 until his retirement in 2003. During that time he also owned and operated Word Of Mouth Books from 1979-1982 and then again from 1986-1994. Terry came out as a gay man in 1988. He and Shirlee eventually divorced but remained close friends until Shirlee's death in 2007. Terry partnered with Timothy Hansen in September of 2001. Terry and Tim lived in the Pacific Northwest until 2008 when they made the move to Palm Springs, CA. Terry loved the desert. He had a soft spot for anyone who had been dealt a hard hand in life. He supported many charities and was a board member of the Desert Chapter of the ACLU and volunteered at The Desert Aids Project and The Classical Music Concert Series at the Rancho Mirage Library. He had many friends who shared his love of tennis, on the court and off. He loved to garden, cook, bake and shop for books to sell online. He was an accomplished pianist yet always worked to improve. Besides Shirlee, Terry was preceded in death by his parents his older brother Tom Lehnis and nephew Drew Lehnis. Terry leaves behind a loving family of his daughter, Julie of Georgetown TX, his partner of twenty-one years, Tim Hansen, sisters Julie Lehnis of Seattle, Clare Lehnis of Portland OR and Mary Lehnis of Milwaukee WI, his brother Dave Lehnis and sister-in-law Jane Lehnis of Lacey WA. His nephews are Damian Lehnis and Michael Lehnis. Nieces are Joy Lehnis Stevens (husband Joey), Sara Lehnis and Cyndi Richter. Tom's widow is Mary Ann Lehnis. Tim's children Michelle Dougherty (husband Mark), Melanie Hansen and Jeff Hansen adored Terry as did Tim's six grandchildren, Henry, Harrison, Paul and Phoebe Dougherty and Pricilla and Charlotte Hansen. A private celebration of Terry's life will be held on Saturday, July 24 in Palm Springs, CA (a virtual service will also be available)). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Terry's name to either the Desert Aids Project (www.daphealth.org) or the South Sound Reading Foundation (www.southsoundreading.org).