Loss of sight did not dim inspiration

By KELLY RICHARDSON

krichardson@thenewsenterprise.com

HARDIN COUNTY — A retired Hardin County Schools teacher is being remembered as an inspiration to many.

Terry Lee Showers, 62, of Elizabethtown, died Wednesday at his home. Showers was a retired teacher and Realtor. His funeral is at 11 a.m. today at Brown Funeral Home in Elizabethtown.

Many remember Showers’ strength in the face of adversity, after a 1972 hunting accident blinded him.

Patti Mayhew, a counselor at Vine Grove Elementary School and a student in Showers’ class at North Hardin High School when the accident happened, said his abilities after the loss of vision were “uncanny.”

“He didn’t let that disability hinder what he was going to do in life in any way,” Mayhew said.

Barbara Underwood worked with Showers when he taught as a substitute at North. Underwood remembers Showers signing into the office with his Seeing Eye dog. Despite his disability, he never had trouble controlling a classroom.

“He just had that persona about him,” she said.

Mayhew said students respected him, as did everyone else.

“He was an example of strength,” she said.

Ray Pack, associate minister at the Church of Christ in Elizabethtown, will help officiate Showers’ funeral. Pack also remembers Showers’ determination, “his confidence that he had that he could still do all the things he could do before his accident.”

Jim White was Showers’ friend for more than 30 years. He said that with the help of Carolyn Showers, Terry did have sight and would tell White about something beautiful he had seen every time they talked.

White called Showers one of the “greatest inspirations” in his life.

Underwood described Showers as compassionate and caring and as someone who wanted to help young people.

“He was a fine teacher and a friend that one would seek,” she said.

Kelly Richardson can be reached at (270) 505-1747.