Todd Terrell Jacobs Obituary (2025)

Please join us in Todd's Celebration of Life; Saturday, June 21st, 2025 at 2:00pm at 151 Lakes Lane, Selah, WA 98942. Todd Terrell Jacobs was born in Gresham, Oregon to parents Terrell Monroe Jacobs Jr. and Sharon Kay Jacobs (Philmalee). He was the second of four grandsons to famed Terrell and Dolly Jacobs; wild animal trainers for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circuses. For the first five years of his life the majority of his time was spent on the road traveling; performing with various different circuses. When at home in Beaver Creek, Oregon, he was inseparable from Grandma Dolly and family elephant Dumbo. Moving to Yakima, Washington at the age 5, he attended Garfield Elementary and Franklin Jr. High School. His teenage years were spent traveling with different variety circuses, including John Strong, Carson and Barnes, Ford Brothers, and family owned Candyland Circus. He made appearances on television shows like Mike Douglas, Johnny Carson, the John Davidson Show, and the Letterman show with his parents various animal acts. He worked carnivals operating various rides for shows like his aunt and uncle - Don and Nancy Moyer's Carousel Midway Shows, Lenny Olsen's Million Dollar Midway, Roger Wofford's Concessions, and Ralph Meekers at the Central Washington State Fair. He loved the showman lifestyle, but his passion was concessions and novelty sales and the nuts and bolts of show business. He started at Safeway at the age of 23 with the encouragement of his Aunt Nancy and held a lifelong career of 36 years; building his work family along the way. Todd enjoyed the circus and carnival lifestyle; always working towards a show of his own. His loves were the Washington State Fair, the annual Oktoberfest he planned with Darin and Suzie Au, and quality time spent with his family. He is survived by his brothers, John (Julie) Jacobs and Robert (Lynette) Jacobs, brother and sister in-law Stacey and Salvador Edgerly Arciga, as well as his nieces Hailey (Benjamin) Ellenberger, Madison Jacobs, Nataly Edgerly-Arciga, and his nephew Diego Edgerly-Arciga. His lifelong friends included Darin and Suzie Au, Winston Mitchel, Freddy Robberts, Richard Luckett, Pat and Sherry McMillan, and James and Vicky Zimmerman. He is preceded in death by his older brother Terrell "Cap" Jacobs III, his father Terrell Jacobs Jr., mother Sharon Jacobs, his paternal grandparents Terrell "The Lion King" Monroe Jacobs Sr. and Dolly Jacobs, as well as his maternal grandparents John and Violet Philmalee. Todd was a friend to all and his loss left an irreparable hole. We are all unbelievably lucky to have had the chance to know him. His essence was compelling to everyone in his path. To know Todd was to love Todd. He will be eternally missed. Brookside Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at: www.brooksidefuneral.com