Terrys active in about every way possible

Karen and Mark Terry. Photo by Mackenzie Dore

By MacKenzie Dore
Reporter, Friday Flyer

Longtime Canyon Lake residents, Karen and Mark Terry, have actively volunteered in Canyon Lake for nearly two decades.

Karen and Mark moved to Canyon Lake from Costa Mesa in 2001. Karen has worked at Ralphs for thirty-three years, the last nine year at the Menifee location. Mark works as an estimator for a general contractor.

Karen has been a member of the Junior Women’s Club since 2007. During her time with the JWC, she served as president for three years, chairman of the Chili Cook-Off and chairman of Summersplash for Kids. She has also served on all of the JWC committees including the POA’s and JWC’s Annual Tree Lighting, Rocktoberfest, Holiday Boutique, Philanthropy, High School Scholarships and Golf Tournament.

“It was fun doing the scholarship interviews,” Karen said. “We have some amazing kids here in Canyon Lake. I was blown away by their grades and their stories of who they want to become. Oh, my goodness, it’s amazing.”

For a little over 10 years now, Mark has been Santa Claus for the POA and JWC’s annual Tree Lighting. Originally, he had to wear a fake beard and wig. He would get so upset with his cheap-looking and uncomfortable beards and wigs that when his hair started to turn gray, he decided to grow his own matching beard.

“The kids were grabbing at the fake beard and the mouth doesn’t move with the beard,” Mark said. “This real beard is so much more convincing.” He typically grows his beard long each year for the event. This last year is currently the longest it had ever been.

Mark started his tenure as Santa with his Mrs. Claus, Carol Basse-Sujushi, also a Canyon Lake resident.

“She was one of our first friends we had when we moved to the lake in 2001,” Mark said. They met when Mark coached all of their children in Little League. The opportunity came for Carol and Mark to be Mr. and Mrs. Claus for the tree lighting each year, when Karen was its chair for the JWC.

One of Karen’s tree lighting responsibilities was to make sure Mr. and Mrs. Claus had their ride to the lodge atop a fire truck from the fire station. One year, the fire station got a call right at the time they were supposed to depart for the lodge so Karen had to improvise. She arranged for Santa and Mrs. Claus to be brought in a police car. Carol sat in the back seat of the off-duty Riverside sheriff’s police cruiser. The officer happened to be attending the tree lighting during his break with his child and offered to help.

“It was not too fun for Canyon Lakers to see Mrs. Claus step out of the back of a police car,” Mark said. “But, thanks to the Riverside Sheriff’s Department, Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived on time.”

Next year, they hope to incorporate the police and fire department in the escort. “It’s a great opportunity for the kids to see positive role models,” Mark said.

Karen was widowed when her children were young and Mark has helped raise the kids with her since. Their daughter, Rachel Bird, 32, resides with her husband Chris Bird and their child William, 2 years old, in Huntington Beach. Their son, Blake Youngquist, 27, is also a Canyon Lake resident and lives here with his children, Triton 2½, and Orion, ‘Opy,’ 6 months.

The Terrys visited Canyon Lake almost 20 years ago and they said they fell in love with it immediately. They made the decision to move to Canyon Lake primarily because kids could ride their bikes freely and they wanted to afford them the same type of upbringing they had in their youth.

Karen said her biggest concern moving to Canyon Lake was that she didn’t know anyone. Many people told her that if she wanted to meet people, she should join the JWC. Mark says he saw a transformation in Karen almost immediately.

“I saw her really blossom as she really embraced the community,” he said. “I think the JWC raising school funds is an incredible way to spend your time. When she became president, I was floored. She followed Carol Sujushi, who was the gold standard of presidents. Karen blossomed in so many areas after joining. I think the JWC is one of the better things I’ve watched people get involved with, not just Karen.”

Mark coached Little League when their kids were young. Canyon Laker and varsity coach at Temescal Canyon High School, Phil Cohen, gave Mark the opportunity to coach baseball for the Titans. During his six seasons there, Mark alternated managing the freshman and junior varsity teams. Former Vice President and General Manager of the Storm Stadium, Chris Jones, hired Mark to assist with The Storm Sports baseball academy for six years. Mark retired from coaching three years ago, when his grandbabies started arriving. Mark states that kids who started in academy when they were just nine years old, are now making the high school varsity team, graduating from high school and getting called up to the big leagues.

“These kids know how to shake your hand, and they’re good kids overall,” Mark said. “The academy teaches them how to be men, not just how to excel at baseball.” Mark subscribes to the three rules in the program that mirror Pete Carroll’s rules within his Seahawks organization. They are: 1. Be early. 2. No whining or excuses. 3. Always protect the team.

“When you take excuses out of your life, you start moving forward at a much quicker pace,” Mark said. “It’s really easy to blame someone else, but this teaches you to be accountable for your actions, protect your team to act as one unit, helps with their grades, and in their home lives and keeps them off the streets. You can’t play baseball with those types of behaviors, they prevent you from protecting the team.”

Mark attends Elevation Church and has great respect for their church pastor Casey Crawford. Over the years, Mark has volunteered and participated in various areas within the church, including their Random Brunch, DG (Disciple Group) and their Ignite Men’s Group.