Terry Lee Bote

Terry Lee Bote, age 71, of Centennial, Colorado, passed away unexpectedly on April 1, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona.

Born on March 4, 1955, in Springfield, Illinois, he was the son of Robert and Lucy Bote with one older brother, Robert Bote, Jr. By the time Terry turned one, the family had moved to Colorado, where he and his brother grew up. There wasn't a sport that Terry did not enjoy and growing up, he and his brother played most of them.

Terry excelled in school and graduated from Littleton High School in 1973 and continued on to graduate from Colorado State University in December 1977. He graduated with distinction with a Bachelor of Arts in Technical Journalism with a Public Relations concentration.

Throughout high school and college, Terry participated in the Mission Hills men’s sports program. To be eligible to participate in that program, Terry was required to attend church once a month. While in his senior year of college, his roommate had a deep spiritual impact on him which led Terry to accept Jesus as his savior. He was baptized at Mission Hills that year. In 1978, while Terry was an assistant coach for the Mission Hills women’s softball team, he met Ann.

Terry started his career as a Sports Editor for The Alliance Daily Times-Herald in Alliance, Nebraska in December of 1978, but came back to Colorado to marry Ann on April 28th, 1979. He continued at that paper for almost 2 years. Terry never wanted to raise kids in Nebraska, so they moved back to Colorado in 1981 where he got a job as an editor with the Littleton Independent. Ali was born to them in September 1985 and Taryn came along in April 1988.

Terry had a true passion and talent for sports writing and in 1986 he started working for U.P.I. (United Press International). It was during this time that he got to cover Super Bowl XXI (Giants v. Broncos) in 1987 and the NCAA “Final Four” in 1990.

When he was between jobs and working on-call writing positions, he spent time as a stay-at-home dad while Ann worked. His girls remember walking to school with him and watching The Andy Griffith Show in the afternoons during those times. Terry was also actively involved in the A.W.A.N.A. program at Mission Hills and served as a leader, getting to spread God’s love not just to his girls but to countless other kids. Youth ministry was always a great passion of Terry’s.

As an involved dad, Terry spent time coaching his daughters’ sports teams, helping with math homework, and took on the role of the “Guard Father” during his youngest’s senior year of high school.

In 1992, Terry started working with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. Although it was not the job he applied for, it was by the grace of God that he got it, even though he might not have always thought so. Terry worked there for 29 years and retired as the External Affairs Manager.

Outside of work, and in retirement, Terry was a devoted grandfather, lovingly known as “Guaps.” He loved reading, traveling with his wife, golfing, attending DU hockey games (and youth hockey games for his grandson), and volunteering with the children’s ministry at Church.

Though not a man of many words, Terry was known as a kind, calm, and consistent presence who will be profoundly missed. He is survived by his beloved wife Ann, married for 47 years; his daughters, Ali Willey and Taryn Thornton; and his 3 grandchildren (Griffin, Kealy, and Boden). He was preceded in death by his parents.

A Memorial Service will be held 2:00 PM, on April 25, 2026, at South Fellowship Church, 6560 S. Broadway, Littleton, Colorado 80121. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to South Fellowship Church and on the check memo line: Student Missions.