Theodore David (Ted) Furry, age 74, passed away at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, MO, on Friday, September 2, 2022. The family is deeply saddened by his sudden and unexpected death.
He was lovingly referred to as “Teddy David” or “Teddy” by his close family, and in his ministry and career life was known more formally as “Ted” or “Ted David.”
Everyone who knew Ted was touched by his kindness, humor, and mild temperament. He was truly a peacemaker and was always a source of positivity. He had an impact on many lives, either through love, friendship, mentorship, spiritual teachings, or (of course) his humor.
Ted was born in Carrollton, MO, on May 8, 1948. He was the first son of Ted and Mary Ellen Furry. His older sister Mary was his first playmate. In later years they would share many adventures including wild driving escapades with Mary at the wheel which he lovingly recalled at her funeral. After the birth of his younger brothers, Charles, and Steve, they loved spending time with their Grandpa Hugh Furry on his farm. In addition, they helped their dad on the farm they grew up on. Charlie and Ted shared their first vehicle, an Impala with “cat eyes” taillights. Their amusing stories of antics would later be coined “Furry Tales” when regaled to others. When baby sister Edie was born Teddy was an amazingly kind and gentle big brother. Of note, all of his family loved his beautiful kind blue/green eyes.
Ted being good natured himself loved animals and being in nature. He raised hogs as a teen and was in FFA. But most of all he loved playing musical instruments, especially the guitar, and was joined by his younger brother, Charles, and dear friends in Norborne, Missouri, in the band, The Jaywalkers. They entertained many with their talents playing current hits of the era in small town skating rinks they rented.
With the Vietnam War, Ted was drafted into the Army. He served in Vietnam as a helicopter mechanic. Ted volunteered to fly second seat many times to help recover downed helicopters in enemy territory. We were so blessed that Ted came back to us much the same as when he left.
Ted was an American muscle car enthusiast and owned both a 1969 maroon GTO with black bucket seats and a 1967 gold Camaro in the late 60s and early 70s. He loved volunteering at the Tulsa Raceway taking pictures and checking out what his own GTO could do on the track after hours.
He attended Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma. There in Tulsa he met the love of his life, Frances, who he has cherished for 52 years. Later he worked as a draftsman at Crest Engineering.
Ted and Fran began their life in Tulsa but later moved back to Carrollton, where he once again raised farm animals and did row cropping for his dad and grandpa. With the birth of their first daughter, Teresa, their new family moved to Chillicothe. Ted entered his first ministry by helping to establish an Assemblies of God Church in Platte City, MO. Later, they relocated to Raytown where their son, David, was born 12 years after Teresa. During that time Ted pastored various small churches across Kansas and Missouri. Teddy loved his children Teresa Marie and David Joseph more than life itself and was an amazing father. His grandchildren were the pride and joy of his older age.
His great discernment and natural ability to spiritually guide led him to become an Ordained Minister with the Assemblies of God after receiving his Masters of Divinity at Central Baptist Theological Seminary where he enjoyed Biblical studies.
Ted was quite the conversationalist. He enjoyed discussing astronomy and new discoveries in science with his brothers and son. He was always learning. He also, since his childhood, could be found in a swing, any kind of swing, as his favorite past time to pray and ponder about life. He was in tune with the birds and even the insects in his backyard during these last years. He will always be remembered for his funny “Teddy-isms” when it came to showing affection to all animals and pets. He loved caring for and sailing his 26-footsailboat at Stockton Lake with Fran by his side. His last “muscle” car was his ¾ ton SUV to pull his sailboat!
Ted was preceded in death by many grandparents having come from a large family, his mother, Mary Ellen Furry; father, Ted Furry; sister, Mary Furry McAvoy; brother, Charles Furry.
He leaves behind his wife Frances Furry of Nevada, MO, his brother Steve Furry of Arizona, and sister Edie Stephens (Furry) of MO, daughter Teresa Lewis and grandchildren Hunter McClung, Skye McClung, and Cameron Lewis of GA, son David Furry and wife Jenna with grandchildren Serenity Wright, Patience Furry, BreAnna Furry, Traxten Furry, and Ezekiel Furry of TX.
Ted will be desperately missed by all those left behind. Our hearts are so broken by this unexpected loss.
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” – Reverend Ted Furry.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday, September 8th, at the F.L.A.G. Church, 1234 N. Rouse St., Pittsburg, KS 66762. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery, Ft. Scott, KS. The family will receive friends from9:30 AM until service time at the church building. Memorials are suggested to F.L.A.G. Church Ft. Scott and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook atcheneywitt.com.
