Terry Lee Simas

Terry Lee Simas, known to many as "Portagee", passed away peacefully in his Yreka home on January 13, 2021, with family by his side. Terry, 65, was born December 25, 1955, in Yreka, CA ~ a very special Christmas gift to his parents Harold and Fredalene "Freddie" Simas. Growing up in Yreka with his family he had many great childhood adventures. Four months before his 18th birthday he joined the U.S. Navy. After completing his basic training, he went to Great Lakes, IL, for his Boilerman Class "A" School, then served on the destroyer, USS Edson out of Newport, RI, as a Boiler Technician. His ship sailed to many ports and in Cambodia their ship protected a fleet of ships as they rescued refugees. Terry honorably discharged in September 1977 leaving San Diego returning home to Yreka. Upon returning to Yreka, he worked at Gold Nugget Printing for his brother, Michael Simas, and with his father, Harold Simas, in Simas & Sons Backhoe. After 8 years of working with his father he ventured out on his own and opened Yreka Small Engine Repair on Fairlane Road servicing and selling chainsaws, mowers and everything in between. He enjoyed the fast pace of his business and the interactions with his many customers. He loved selling equipment to customers making their work or home chores easier and when he could stop and take time to swap stories with his "regulars". In 1991, Terry and his wife, Susie, built Yreka Miniature Golf from the ground up on the property owned by Yreka Small Engine Repair. Building an 18-hole miniature golf course presented unique challenges but Terry had a great number of skills and he had no problem, with a little help from family and friends, accomplishing all of them; including the obstacles of a bridge, windmill, a miniature version of the Eiffel Tower, a castle including a moat and moving drawbridge, and a pendulum clock! When he asked Susie "How am I supposed to make those?" she just smiled and told him "If anyone can, you can!" And he did! In 1998 Terry decided to make a change and went back into construction operating a backhoe for the installation of underground fiber optic cables, 6 months later he got off the equipment, becoming an Inspector in the same field. He loved his job, especially the people, and the challenges it brought. It was a great fit for Terry, he excelled at it and before he retired, he was managing the projects and inspectors. Even though Terry was working away from home many months at a time, in 2014 he and Susie started another business, Rocky Gulch Metal Art & Custom Creations. In 2018 Terry decided to retire from the fiber optic work and go home where he could work the metal art business with his wife, traveling to shows with her was a lot more fun than traveling alone! It also gave him time to enjoy the hobbies he loved -camping, fishing and hunting. He enjoyed fishing so much that he set a goal in 2020, catch and release 1,000 bass by July 4th. He made his goal, that's a lot of fishing! In 2019 Terry discovered a hidden talent...air brush painting and was hand painting fishing lures which was the beginning of his business True Strike Lures; selling his beautiful lures at shows and on his website. Well...when he wasn't fishing that is! In the late 80's/early 90's Terry also served for 6 years in Yreka Volunteer Fire Department. Terry was always busy! Terry is survived by his wife, Susie; sons, Travis (Brittany) of Montague, CA, Josh (Jennifer) of Yreka, CA and Jake (Kim) of Safford, AZ; and his daughter Caressa McCanna (TJ) of Yreka, CA. He is also survived by his mom, Freddie Simas; and brothers, Larry (Karen) and Michael (Beverly) all of Yreka, CA and sister, Karen Magdaleno (Tony) of Redding, CA. Terry was also the proud grandpa of 9 wonderful grandchildren; Hailee and Caleb of Montague, CA; Hunter and Piper of Yreka, CA, Maddie, Isiah, Baylee and Hunter of Yreka, CA; and Jordan of Safford, AZ. Terry was preceded in death by his brother, Jim Simas, father, Harold Simas, and his handsome, loveable dog and best buddy, Gizmo. Rest in peace, Terry, you will be missed! A memorial will take place at a later date.

Terry Lee Simas

December 25, 1955 - January 13, 2021