Terry Kitchen

Terry Wyatt Kitchen, 66, of Cape Girardeau passed away peacefully Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born May 13, 1952, in Cape Girardeau, to Paul F. and Wilda Ford Kitchen.

Coach Kitchen was a coach, teacher and administrator for more than 40 years and was employed at Cape Girardeau Public Schools for nearly his entire tenure. He was still performing in the role of junior high athletic director upon his passing. Retirement did not suit him.

Terry graduated from Cape Girardeau Central High School in 1970. While a student, he was awarded the title of "Mr. CHS" and lettered in football, basketball and baseball. As a senior football player, he was named Outstanding Lineman of the Year for the Southeast Missouri North Conference, placed on the 4A All-State team as a defensive specialist and was Cape Central's second all-state football player. The following spring he was Honorable Mention All-State in baseball. Finally, he was honored with the Lou Muegge Award, given to the senior athlete who best exemplifies outstanding traits on and off the field.

He graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science in education, followed by a Master's in Administration in 1991. While working on his bachelor's, he played baseball on scholarship for Southeast Missouri State Hall-of-Fame coach Joe Uhls, lettering all four years.

Terry Kitchen

After college, he worked for Central Foods, performing various tasks. His first job in education came in Southern Illinois, when he became assistant baseball and basketball coach for Shawnee High School. He then became head baseball coach for one year.

In 1978, he received the opportunity to do his dream job, when he was named the head baseball coach for Cape Central High School, a position he maintained until stepping down to become the school's athletic director in 1991. While head baseball coach, he amassed a record of 212-76, including eight district titles, four trips to the state final four and one state championship game appearance.

Afterward, he held the position of Cape Central athletic director until 2003. While athletic director, he received three more prestigious honors. The Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association named him the Athletic Director of the Year of the Southeast District in 1996. In 2001, the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce awarded him Administration Educator of the Year. In 2002, he was inducted into the Cape Central Athletic Hall of Fame.

In 2003, he returned to the old high school building, which is now the junior high, and became the junior high athletic director, assistant eighth-grade coach, assistant varsity baseball coach and part-time PE teacher. In 2009, he officially retired, but still worked part-time as the junior high athletic director, in addition to working as a groundskeeper during the summer months. In 2018, he received two more honors: Semoball Lifetime Achievement Award and the Sam Giambelluca Lifetime Achievement Award.

Throughout his life, Coach always made sure to give glory to God. He attended Christ Church of the Heartland and would frequently speak in front of the congregation to offer words of encouragement. When in public, people would often request a prayer from him. He always made sure to pray for the person right there on the spot, never afraid to pray in public.

Those who knew Coach know how much he loved his pit bulls. He cared for them like they were his children, and they loved him just as much.

He married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Stafford, on Nov. 22, 1975, at First Pentecostal Assembly in Cape Girardeau. She survives along with their two sons, Tatum (Kari) and Kory (Lauren). Also surviving are his four grandchildren who brought him so much joy, Claire, Cole, Cooper and Luke.

Also surviving are his mother, Wilda Kitchen; brother, Paul (Peggy) Kitchen; five nieces, Angie (Bard) Womack, Alison Moorman, Jodie (Charlie) Chappell, Sonja (Ron) Ford and Mandy (Andy) Rickett; and nephews, Jeff Narsh, Walter (Malissa) Seabaugh, Casey Musgrove and Dallas (Lieki) Musgrove.

He was preceded in death by his father, Paul F. Kitchen, and nephew, Scott Kinder.

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Christ Church of the Heartland.

Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Zack Strong officiating. Burial will be at Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be made to Terry W. Kitchen Male Athlete Scholarship at First State Community Bank, c/o Tara Holyfield.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.