Clarice Starnes Obituary
Clarice “Terry” Starnes, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, artist, and storyteller, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2026.
She was born on October 22, 1935, in Arizona to Clarice and Louis Battyany. Raised in California, she made Texas her home in 1970, where she built a life full of purpose and deep family connections.
Terry showed a gift for art from an early age. At just 10 years old, she won first place at a children’s art exhibit for her sketch of an American Indian—an early sign of the talent and passion that stayed with her throughout her life.
She shared a loving marriage with her husband, Jon Starnes, and together they built a life centered on love, partnership, and family. This May would have marked their 53rd wedding anniversary—a reflection of their enduring love. Terry was the devoted mother to Leslie, a loving stepmother to Kelley and Kristen, and grandmother (“GT”) to her late granddaughter, Lindsey. She was incredibly proud of her daughters and the lives they built.
In addition to raising her family, Terry lived a dynamic and expressive life. She worked alongside Jon in his business before the two semi-retired and purchased a 210-acre ranch in Bandera, Texas, seeking a simpler life grounded in faith as Jon was diagnosed with leukemia and given a short time to live. During that season, Terry became a freelance writer for The Bandera Bulletin and earned a Texas Press Association Award for her article on Arkie Blue and the Silver Dollar Saloon.
After Jon’s health returned, they moved to Austin, where Jon resumed his consulting, architecture, and development projects while Terry managed the books and handled office manager duties. She also wrote for the West Austin News, where her restaurant columns—titled “Good Taste”—highlighted dining spots in and around Austin. In 1991, she joined Applied Research Laboratories at The University of Texas and retired in 1999. She was honored for her dedication and service to the Lab.
While she loved writing, painting was her true passion. About twenty years ago, Terry returned fully to her art, devoting herself to it with renewed energy. Her work—often described as original, vibrant, and impressionistic—found homes on both personal and corporate walls across the country. She painted what brought her joy: people, pets, florals, landscapes, and still lifes, always capturing light, color, and feeling in a way that was uniquely hers.
Terry found joy in life’s simple and meaningful moments. She loved time with family, especially during holidays filled with laughter and tradition. She truly was the “hostess with the mostest”—there was always an extra place set at the table or an extra stocking hung, ready to welcome extended family, last-minute guests, and friends who quickly became family.
She taught her girls early on that kindness didn’t end with the moment—it was followed by a handwritten thank-you note. She believed any meal could feel special as long as it wasn’t served on paper plates, and no one took a single bite until everyone was seated around the table. These weren’t just rules; they were her way of creating connection and making sure everything felt a little extra special.
Holidays in her home were warm, lively, and full of love, often ending with a spirited poker game where one-eyed jacks were always wild. Her homemade pickles became a tradition and a gift many looked forward to each year.
Terry and Jon spent many years in Westlake before settling in Steiner Ranch, where they enjoyed a quieter life together, surrounded by the spoiled animals who brought daily laughter into their home.
Terry will be remembered for her warmth, humor, artistic spirit, and unwavering love for her family. She had a gift for seeing beauty in the world—and sharing it through her art and her words.
She leaves behind her husband, Jon Starnes; her daughters, Leslie Starnes of Austin, Texas; Kelley Starnes Richardson (husband, Stanley Richardson) of Brenham, Texas; and Kristen Starnes (partner, Tabitha Schtulmann) of Austin, Texas; her much-loved animal “kiddos”—cats Diane, Fred, and Marie—and her grand-dog, Slate; and a legacy of love, laughter, and artistry that will live on in all who knew her.
As Kahlil Gibran wrote in The Prophet, “Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. And when you have reached the mountain top then you shall begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.”
We all loved our opportunity to dance with Terry.
A celebration of Terry’s life will be held in Austin at The Smith Family Chapel at Riverbend Church
May 9th, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for donations to Austin Zoo or Hospice Austin.