It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Terry Jordan (TJ) Speth, a beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend. TJ was born on April 5, 1991, and tragically left us on February 23, 2024.
TJ was born in Mesa Arizona and grew up playing sports and video games. He enjoyed baseball, soccer and basketball but fell in love with tennis. TJ was on the Highland High tennis team all four years he attended Highland and graduated in 2009. Whether it was fixing a broken appliance or helping a friend with a project, he had a natural talent for finding solutions. He enjoyed cooking and found joy in preparing a five-star meal. TJ had a particular love for country dancing and always knew how to have a good time.
TJ’s enthusiasm for life, love for hanging out with his friends and family, along with his infectious laughter and bright personality brought joy to those around him. The outdoors held a special place in TJ’s heart. He had a deep love for nature and found solace in its beauty. Lake Powell was one of his favorite destinations, where he excelled at various water sports and created countless memories with family and friends. He also had a deep love for the ocean and marine life. While working at the Phoenix zoo he loved working with the stingrays and was asked to create a binder for the zoo staff to know the names of all the stingrays. He often talked of wanting to buy a boat and live on the water.
In January 2012, TJ made the selfless decision to enlist in the military, serving his country with honor and dedication. While serving for 7 years he spent time in Georgia and Afghanistan where he developed lifelong friendships. After an honorable discharge,
TJ pursued his passion for technology and enrolled at Arizona State University, where he majored in computer science.
TJ is survived by his loving parents Terry and Cheri Speth and siblings, Taylor (Heather) Speth and Megan (Chandler) Nikolaus. He was a cherished uncle to his nieces, Sage and Rylee, whom he fondly referred to as, “Little One” and “Little Two”. He has reunited with his beloved grandparents, Mervyn and Viona Speth, and his sweet nephew, Nash. Although we will miss him, his influence will endure on in our lives.
TJ will be remembered for his infectious spirit, his unwavering friendship, and the remarkable impact he had on everyone fortunate enough to have known him.
We will forever hold tight to the moments we shared with TJ. His light will live on through the lives he touched, his friends and his family. As he would say, raise a glass to celebrate what life has to offer and being in the moment.
Rest in peace, TJ. You will be deeply missed and always remembered.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 10am at the Maplewood LDS church building.3775 S. Greenfield Rd.Gilbert, AZ 85297
The services will be streamed at https://youtube.com/live/rQBYxf_kzLI?feature=share
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Terry (TJ) Jordan Speth, please visit our floral store.