Terry Ellen “Azbill” Muzdeka was born February 29, 1948 in Phoenix AZ to George David Azbill and Nethel Wingo Azbill. Terry passed away April 27th, 2019, in Broken Bow, NE from her 11 year battle with COPD.
Funeral services will be Saturday, May 4th, 2019, at 10:00 A.M. at the Church of Christ in Broken Bow, NE with Evangelist Rick Eldred officiating.
In 1965, at 17, she married Charles Edward Searles in Overton NV, where she became a mother to Pamela in 1966 and Ginger in 1969. At 21 years old, as a single mother of two and moved to Las Vegas where she began her carrier in the culinary union, working various cocktail and waitressing jobs along downtown and The Strip.
She met Kim Phillips in 1971 while working at Denny’s, she as a waitress and Kim was a cook. They married and in 1975 Kimberly was born. In 1977, Nathan blessed them as their only son. Though they were all one big happy family, it became complete when Kim adopted Pam and Ginger later that year.
Her career in food and drink service included time at Denny’s, Macayo’s, The Bagel Nash, New York Deli, a part owner in The Brass Monkey, and finally a cocktail waitress at the Excalibur Hotel, retiring early in 2003 from the Culinary Union.
Terry moved to Nebraska in 2003, where she worked various jobs in Ord, Arcadia, and Loup City before her health began to fail in 2009.
She loved to read, travel, the outdoors, eat great food, cook, bake, sing, sew doll clothes, holiday dresses, wedding and bridesmaid dresses), was brilliant in American History, music and movie trivia, and a spirited political junky. Terry had an incredible sense of humor, could tell a great story, loved music and movies, especially old black and whites. She loved nice things, sweet treats, décor, jewelry, clothes, and even up until her final days wanted her hair done, room decorated, and jewelry on.
She was also partly responsible for her family’s addiction to sports (NASCAR, baseball, football, and even pool). Though nothing compared to her love for her children and grandchildren.
She rarely missed an event her grandchildren were participating in. Sports games, concerts, plays, dances, and school functions often included her sitting in the crowd somewhere. If you spent any time with her you probably heard about the things her family was doing or accomplishing. When a birthday came around, she would beat everyone to the punch and be the first one you would hear from on your special day.
Terry experienced a great deal of heartbreak in the short 71 years of her life, beginning with being separated from her siblings with the divorce of her mother and father, the loss of 5 of her siblings, friends and extended family members at very young ages, but through it all she believed in happiness, laughter, love and spending time with those she loved.
She will be remembered for her best qualities, the ones she passed on to her children: The importance of family, humor, compassion, her entrepreneurial spirit, her drive, independence, grit, and her thirst for knowledge.
Preceded in Death by her father George David Azbill, Mother Nethel Wingo Burke, sisters Deborah and Penny Azbill, as well as brothers Lilburn “Burnie”, Philip, and Gregory “Doc” Azbill.
She is survived by her brother George Azbill of OK, sisters Marlee Prince of AZ and Sandra Veselik of AZ. Children Pamela Brody of Ord, Ginger Phillips of Las Vegas, NV, Kimberly & Michael Mundt of Frankfort, KY, and Nathan Phillips of Arcadia. Grandchildren, Aundreya & Codie Rich, Kassidy Mundt, Myah Phillips, Kyla Phillips, Brayden Phillips, Ray Brawdy, Joanna Brawdy, Johnathan Brock and Steven Brock. Aunt Eve and Windell Pearson. Many Nieces and Nephews.
