Terri McInnis

Terri McInnis, 64, of Wood River, Illinois, passed away peacefully at 5:20 AM on July 18, 2026, at Missouri Baptist Hospital after a long battle with cancer, surrounded by her loved ones. She fought with everything she had until the very end, and while her family grieves deeply, they take comfort in knowing she is finally free of the pain she carried for so long.

Terri was born June 17, 1962, in Wood River, Illinois. She spent time in the Job Corps in her younger years and briefly lived in Cleveland and Texas before returning home to the region she loved and never left again.

Terri was, above all else, a fighter. Her whole life was marked by resilience and determination, and no matter what she faced, she met it head-on. Yet for all her strength, she was known just as much for her kindness. Everyone who met her walked away describing her that way.

Family was Terri's true purpose. Her love for her grandchildren, and even her granddogs, knew no limits. She lit up watching her granddaughter Lucy perform on stage in theater, and she cherished her weekends with her grandson Neil IV, affectionately known as "Mister." She and her husband Neil shared a deep love of traveling together, building a lifetime of memories along the way. And some of her favorite moments were the simple ones – indulging in guilty-pleasure TV binges of shows like 90 Day Fiancé with her sister and best friend, LeeAnn.

Terri is survived by her husband of 44 years, Neil McInnis; her daughter, Chelsy Earley (Ken), of St. Louis, Missouri; her son, Neil McInnis III (Heather), of Wood River, Illinois; her grandchildren, Lucy Maynard and Neil McInnis IV; her sister, LeeAnn Eckhardt, of South Roxana; her brother, Scott Hellemeyer (Charlotte), of East Alton; her nephew, Chad Eckhardt, of Oklahoma City; her nieces, Bailey Heistand (Zach) of Godfrey, and Shelby Hellemeyer of East Alton; and numerous extended family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rod Hellemeyer and Betty Pitchford; her daughter, Ashly (McInnis) Maynard; her grandson, Vincent Maynard; and her grandmother, Rita Elizabeth (Taylor) Pitchford.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 PM on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at Pitchford Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, July 24, 2026, also at Pitchford Funeral Home, with graveside services to follow at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Autism Clinic at Hope, in honor of her grandson Vincent Maynard, or to CHAMP Assistance Dogs, in honor of her granddog Petey and the other therapy dogs trained by the organization who brightened her days during treatment.