Hello, my name is John Prophet. I’m the son of the “gourd guy”, Terry Prophet, who set up his gourd stand on the corner of Broadway and Crismon in East Mesa. Over the last 8 years, he was known for being there every day of the week, rain or shine, hot or cold selling homemade thunder gourds, and bird feeders to passers by.

Unfortunately, in the early afternoon on August 27th 2025, Terry was struck and killed while the using the crosswalk on his way back to the gourd stand. He had just turned 83 years old on July 9th.

The outpouring of support from the community has been overwhelming, and myself, and my mother Carol are so thankful for everyone who has stopped by, or expressed their condolences online. Terry made a lot of friends out there on the corner, and to everyone who bought a gourd from him, or stopped to give him food and water over the years, thank you so much for your support.

In the wake of his loss, my mother and I are hoping to raise funds to help cover Terry’s funerary expenses. Anything you can give would be greatly appreciated, and go far in helping us navigate this difficult time.

Again, for any past or future support, we can’t thank you enough.