Teressa Ann Ashcroft's Obituary
Teressa Ann Terry Ashcroft was born May 16, 1959, to Nora Ann Brown and Perry Eugene Terry in Longview, Texas. She went to be with her Lord and Savior on August 24, 2016. Left to cherish her memory is her husband Dan Ashcroft, son Aaron Lindy Ashcroft and his wife Jillian, daughter Carey Ann Ripley and her husband SSgt Donovan Ripley and his two sons Damien and Alec, her father Perry Terry and wife Joann, sister Cindy Harrison and husband Scott and their daughter Hayden. She also was blessed with a large extended family of the Brown, Kuykendall, and Terry families. She was preceded in death by her grandmothers Sara Ann “Mama Sara” Kuykendall and Mary “Maw Maw” Berry.
Teressa grew up in Longview, graduating from Hallsville High School. She attended Kilgore College while helping run her mom’s clothing and shoe boutique. She loved to act in the theater while in college and later in the Longview Community Theater. She returned to school in 1995, later graduating with honors in 1997 from Kilgore College with an Associate’s degree in the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program. After working as a PTA for several agencies she found her work home in 2002 at Good Shepherd. She was an exceptional therapist, loved by “most” of her patients, “most” being used because she was tough on her patients and pushed them to get better. She was especially close to her work family at the Institute for Healthy Living (or as she called it “The ‘tute”). Christa, Lana, Krista, Jeff, Myra, Mitch and others enjoyed her wit, and appreciated or tolerated her matter of fact opinions. Her supervisor Gene was very kind to her over the years, even coming to the hospital to pray with her and her family. They are grateful to her work family’s continuous support and love during some very hard times.
Teressa’s fight against cancer began in 2008, when she became ill and battled two years of misdiagnosed symptoms, later to find out it was Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Her grace and just plain grit got her through a dangerous surgery, chemo and radiation. In 2014, breast cancer was no match for her either. The last diagnosis in 2016 would be a different story. Her and her family are eternally grateful to the angels brought into their lives from Texas Oncology and the Oncology Floor at Good Shepherd. Dr. Frase, Toni, Wanda, Monica, Lynne, Dusty, Carrie, Seana, and many others provided constant compassion and support that Teressa and her family will never forget.
Teressa and her husband found their special place in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Since the early 2000s they celebrated their wedding anniversary at the same property each year. It was there they met special friends from Nashville who became family, “Pinky” and Sue. Teressa was a relentless seashell hunter and over the years collected them from every coast in the U.S., sometimes later to find some still alive which made her bag really stinky when they later died. Fort Walton was her home away from home and it is there where her and her husband’s, when the time comes, remains will be spread to watch the sunset together for eternity.
Teressa was particularly proud of her children. Carey graduated Magna Cum Laude from UT Tyler and is now pursuing her career in Public Relations/Communications. She worked for a non-profit women’s shelter in North Carolina doing great work and is now with the City of Keller, Texas. Carey was Teressa’s best friend. She was so proud of the beautiful, talented young woman she has become. Aaron joined the Marines right out of high school and went to several duty stations before landing in San Diego. Teressa was proud to be a Marine Mom. A marine flag flew outside her home at all times while Aaron was on active duty, going through 10 or 15 flags. She was equally proud of her handsome son who turned into an honorable young man. He is now a civilian contractor, still contributing to the safety of our nation. She was lucky enough to see both of her children recently married. Aaron married the beautiful Jillian last September at the new wedding venue called “Pops Pier,” which she transformed into a memorable setting for a ceremony. In March, daughter Carey married her handsome Marine SSgt Donovan at the lake in Tyler. Teressa made almost every decoration to help make this day one to remember. She wanted her children to find life-long love and to be happy.
Also left behind are her fur babies and fur grand babies. She loved dogs and has had many through the years. Two corgis, Mr. Bo Jangles and Taz, kept her busy along with per Pomeranian, Layla –“she’s a rescue.” Fur grand babies Smurf, Sophie and Mr. T brought her much joy and aggravation.
A celebration of life for Teressa will be held at Rader Funeral Home in Longview, Texas, on Saturday August 27th. Visitation will begin at 3 p.m. and the memorial service will begin at 4 p.m.
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