Ms. Terri June (Bess) Meehan, 64, of Mishawaka, Indiana, passed away peacefully at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 7:20 a.m., following an illness.

Born on June 8, 1961, in Elkhart, Indiana, Terri was a woman who made an impression wherever she went—not because she tried to, but because being fully, genuinely herself was simply her way. She is the daughter of Mr. James M. Bess, Sr., of Monroe, Michigan, and was the daughter the late Mrs. Peggie L. (Phillips) Bess. She was preceded in death by her mother, her brother James M. Bess, Jr., and her former husband, James A. “Jimbo” Meehan, Jr.—each of whom held a lasting place in her heart.

Terri leaves behind a legacy that lives loudly and lovingly through her family: her cherished daughter, Wendi Lamie of Dowagiac, Michigan; her sons James (Darcy) Bess of Cassopolis, Michigan, Jackie Bess of Mishawaka, and Bobbie (Katie) Bess of Auburn, Indiana. She is also survived by her brothers Harold R. “Thumper” (Roxanne) Bess of Monroe, Michigan, and Michael Bess of Syracuse, Indiana; her sister-in-law Alice Bess of Osceola; along with twenty grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and a wide circle of step-family, nieces, nephews, extended family, and lifelong friends. To all of them, she was more than “Terri”—she was comfort, laughter, and home.

Terri had a way of living that felt both simple and extraordinary. She took pride in the everyday things—keeping a tidy home, tending to her yard, and making sure not a single critter in her care went hungry. If it had fur, feathers, or wandered through her yard, it likely left a little better off thanks to her.

But if there was one place Terri truly came alive, it was near the water. Shavehead Lake in Michigan wasn’t just a destination—it was her sanctuary. Whether she was fishing, boating, or simply soaking in the sunshine dancing across the water, those were her moments of peace. The lake house she shared with Jimbo became a refuge not just from life’s stresses, but a place where laughter echoed, time slowed down, and memories were made in the most meaningful ways.

At her core, Terri was a mother through and through—the kind people hope for and never forget. Her children will tell you she made sure everyone was cared for, heard, and loved equally (even if she might have teased otherwise). She was proud of the life she built with them and the people they became. Her love wasn’t quiet—it showed up in meals, in laughter, in tough moments, and in the way she always made room for “just one more” at the table.

She was also the neighborhood mom, the card game champion (especially when it came to Spades, Euchre, or Skip-Bo), and a loyal fan of her favorite shows—Survivor among them. Terri had a quick wit and a wonderfully playful sense of humor. She could make you laugh when you least expected it and remind you, in the same breath, not to take life too seriously.

To know Terri was to know warmth, resilience, and a little bit of mischief. She didn’t need grand gestures to leave a mark—she did it in the steady, genuine way she loved and lived every day.

In honor of Terri’s life, her family will host a gathering of friends at Billings Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Elkhart on Friday, May 15, 2026, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. A dinner at High Dive Pavilion in High Dive Park will follow immediately after, where stories will be shared, laughter will rise again, and Terri’s spirit will no doubt be felt in every corner.

If you listen closely, you might just hear her in the shuffle of cards, the ripple of water, or the quiet rustle of leaves where her woodland friends still gather—waiting, as always, for her gentle care.