In Loving Memory of Terrilyn Jo Cesta

Terrilyn Jo Cesta was born on July 16, 1954, in Columbus, Ohio. She passed from this life as a result of natural causes on Sunday, December 4, 2022, in San Antonio, Texas. She was in her home with loyal companions, Bernie and Sorrel, the last of her many, many, homeless rescue dogs. She rests with her parents, Nancy Jane Vencill and Louis Vincent Cesta. Terrilyn, also known as TT and Willow Flower, is dearly loved and mourned by her elder sisters, Cheri, Dae, and Melody, seven nieces, six nephews, extended family, and many cousins. She will be missed by longtime friends and others whose lives she touched through her vocations, love of music and animals.

Terril’s loved ones are comforted to know her passing was quick and painless. She was born with several genetic disorders: Osteogenesis Imperfecta, known as brittle bone disease, as well as a challenging hearing impairment. During an end-of-school-year event at age 12, Terril suffered tragic, life-long injuries, requiring major surgery of both legs, resulting in a full body cast for the entire summer. Terril was a resilient young girl and woman who lived a life of joy and sorrow with an enduring spirit to carry on.

In early childhood, Terril revealed a profound interest in animals and had a menagerie of various furry and feathered creatures. This attraction prompted early high school graduation in order to pursue an equestrian vocation of 23 years. She developed and managed a boarding and riding stable she named Leatherwood Farm. Her adept skills and knowledge increased as she developed her breeding stock lines, was the broodmare foaling attendant, and raised, broke, and successfully trained horses. Eventually, she transitioned from working with Quarter Horses to Thoroughbreds. As a result of her successful endeavors and growing reputation, she was offered a lifetime contract as the residential manager of a horse ranch. With business partner Robert Guyton, she chose a 94-acre horse ranch in Wilmington, Ohio. There she enjoyed a few years on the ranch in Wilmington until Robert Guyton’s unforeseen death changed her future direction.

Terril moved to Dayton, Ohio, and completed an Occupational Therapy Assistant Degree from Sinclair College, specializing in hand therapy and pediatrics. She integrated her service dog and guitar playing during home visits with children on the autism spectrum with remarkable outcomes.

Following graduation, Terril was employed at Smith Clinic and purchased a house in Marion, Ohio, where her horticulture pursuits found her flourishing as an avid gardener. Terril again steps through another of life’s thresholds with her first rescue dog, a Boston Terrier named, Birdie. After a few years in Marion, Ohio Terril sold her house and with Birdie took to the road as a traveling OTA, combining work assignments while visiting friends in Chicago, Delaware, Georgia, and Houston, Texas. Her brittle bones were pulling her across the country seeking milder winters and a less humid climate.

At a young age, Terrilyn demonstrated musical giftedness. She sang like an angel always in key and harmonized without effort. She could spontaneously play tunes on plastic toy instruments and later taught herself how to play the guitar. In young adulthood, she found opportunities to join other musicians in Columbus, Ohio, performing on stage with Mike Harden and the Highway 40 Band at Valley Dale, bringing awareness and supporting fundraisers for homelessness. She held many songfests (hoedowns) around the firepit at Leatherwood Farm as her repertoire was ever-expanding.

When Terril settled in San Antonio and purchased a home, she became alarmed by the abandoned street dog population in her neighborhood and elsewhere in the city. Terril began to network with other rescues and started her own “Forever Home” dog rescue. Her philosophy was “Every dog deserves to be loved as the best dog in the world.” Her innate animal connection was another God-given gift. In addition to dog rescue, she continued to pursue her musical gift and played with other musicians and relished cooking meals to share at the gatherings. You may hear her sing and make music at http://www.youtube.com/@TTWillow9073.

Terrilyn’s patience, insights, skillful training, and caring for all animals surpasses most people’s understanding. She chose to live modestly but provide her rescues with the best food, medical attention, and ultimately the best home. During her years of work with rescues, her efforts found “forever homes” for more than seventy dogs.

Arrangements have been made for natural burial at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at Unbroken Circle Green Cemetery, located at 11045 Fowler Rd, Atascosa, TX 78002, 210-992-2143.

In honor of Terrilyn and her dedication to animal rescues, contributions may be made to any of the following organizations that were dear to her heart.

Last Chance Corral Athens, Ohio
(nurse mare foal rescue)
https://lastchancecorral.org/

San Antonio Humane Society
(no-kill rescue and adoption)
https://sahumane.org/

Triangle Therapy Services Eaton, Ohio
(pediatric therapy, hippotherapy)
https://triangletherapyservices.com/