Terry Waite moved his family to Twentynine Palms in 1990 and began a retirement career as a local metal artist.  His first public sculptures were two giant steel flowers installed in 1991 at Copper Mountain College, Joshua Tree. In the Fall of 1991, he had his first one-man showing at 29 Palms Art Gallery.
   Since that time, Waite’s art continued to make a permanent imprint on our desert community. His metal art began appearing on commercial buildings in downtown Twentynine Palms and private homes throughout the Morongo Basin. He was co-creator of Twentynine Palms Mural #12, “Desert Gold Mining Days,” with artist John Whytock of Big Bear, CA, and he received a 1998 Chamber of Commerce Beautification Award for his role in designing the Joshua Park Mining Town & Art Community project on Mesquite Avenue.  Waite also founded three art galleries in Twentynine Palms: Gallery 5770, Desert Iron Gallery, and Gallery 62, which is now the Mural Gallery & Gifts on 29 Palms Highway.
   His recent works included art installations for the Mojave National Preserve, the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District, and the Victor Valley Materials Recovery Facility.   He was also responsible for creating the Twentynine Palms Motorsports Arena with partner Brian Hoffman and the Jaycees on the Mel Morris property east of Twentynine Palms, the site that now hosts the annual Hilltoppers M.C. Wild West Gran Prix motorcycle races every April.
     Waite was co-founder of The Sun Runner Magazine with his wife, Vickie, and contributed his famous monthly “Didjano” column to the publication.
   Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, July 31, at 29 Palms Cemetery, 5350 Encelia Ave., Twentynine Palms. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Waite Family Fund at PFF Bank & Trust, 6325 Adobe Road, Twentynine Palms.

SPEECH, by Sarah Waite

(Written by Sarah Waite, age 9-1/2, and read at the burial ceremony for her father, Terry Waite, on July 31, 2000, Twentynine Palms, CA.)

My father was a great man and he has touched us all in a wonderfully creative way.  He could’ve done almost anything that had to do with art. But sadly, he had to move on into a new way. Not necessarily death, but a new step into life.  And there are many names different people call it.  Some call it the afterlife, other people call it the stage of spirits, and others call it Heaven or Heck.  But the only thing I call it is another step into the cosmos.  All of us really liked him and it will be hard to let go of this sorrow, especially the close friends of my father. It will be very hard for my brother, my mom, and my 2 aunts and 3 uncles that know about this terrible tradgedy. As many people know, my dad was a loved one to us all, and he was very artistic, and he also had a great sense of humor. I know he is here right now listening to this speech, and he loved us all, family, friends, he has touched us all in every way. He will always be with us, in our hearts, in our spirits, and he will always be a part of our souls, and he will be with us forever.

July 31, 2000
Twentynine Palms, California

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