Theresa Jo Wilson Woosley has gone to Valhalla, the hall of slain warriors famed in Norse mythology. Fiercely determined to overcome the cancer that darkened her final months, Theresa faced death as she had faced her 67 years on Earth: with courage, integrity and grace. She died Thursday, July 27, at her daughter's home in Willis, Texas, from the effects of cancer and a stroke.

Theresa led a remarkable life, putting down roots in Montana, Washington, New Mexico and West Texas in her first decade. A native of Glendive in eastern Montana, she was the second of four children and only daughter of Beech Grove native J.M. Wilson Jr. and Beverly Wilson. The couple met when J.M., working as a surveyor for United Geophysical in nearby Froid, convinced Beverly to marry him and follow him back to Texas.

Born Dec. 24, 1955, Theresa was descended from the Wilson, Holton, Smith and Wigley families, among Jasper County's founding families in the 1800s, and the Peterson and Grovom families, who immigrated from Norway to Montana in the early 20th century. After her family moved to Jasper in 1964, Theresa attended the former Beech Grove School and Jasper High School. A gifted artist and writer, she excelled academically until her life changed dramatically in her sophomore year, when she and her first husband, Mike Comte, became parents to a daughter, Allison, in 1972. The young family moved to Hawaii when Mike was stationed there with the U.S. Navy in the final days of the Vietnam conflict. They returned to Jasper in 1976, and she spent most of her remaining days in Beech Grove. She married again in 1987 and gave birth to a son, Ryan, in 1989. Although the marriages did not endure, they produced the two most important relationships of her life: those with her children.

As one of the second generation of women who raised a family while pursuing a career (her mother being a member of the first), Theresa honed her customer service skills in the family business. Her first job was wrapping gifts and running the manual cash register at her parents' retail business, White's Auto, which later became Western Auto. Working at "the store" became a rite of passage for all the Wilson siblings and many of their cousins. Her career spanned more than four decades, first in positions at Mary E. Dickerson Memorial Hospital, Jumper's Shoes and Pope's Department Store. Her high scores on the U.S. Civil Service Exam led to her being offered a public-facing window clerk position with the U.S. Post Office in Jasper in 1980. She worked there 29 years and knew everyone in the 75951 ZIP code by name and mailing address. In 2009, at age 53, she retired to help manage Wilson Insurance Agency, owned by her brother Jeff, and soon became a licensed agent. After her brother retired and closed the agency in 2020, she retired to her home in Beech Grove.

Quiet and reflective, Theresa maintained close ties in the community. From her hospital rooms in Houston and The Woodlands and Allison's home in Willis, she welcomed a revolving door of visitors and other loved ones who kept her spirits up with phone calls, emails, texts and flowers during her final five months.

Theresa had a passion for genealogy and worked extensively to trace her family history. She was delighted when a DNA test connected her with Peterson cousins from Venezuela and Florida. She maintained and enjoyed relationships with those cousins, just as she did with those from her Wilson and Peterson families.

Although not overtly religious, Theresa believed with all her heart in the power of peace and love. She grew up Lutheran in Montana and Baptist in Texas. A seeker who explored different denominations, she found inner peace tending her bountiful garden and caring for an endless parade of pets that found their way to her door.

Foremost on her mind during her final months was finding homes for those pets. Those who wish to honor Theresa's memory are asked to consider opening their home to one of her beloved dogs and cats.

Theresa was preceded in death by her parents, J.M. Wilson Jr. and Beverly Wilson; her sister-in-law Lisa Carol Hollingsworth Wilson; and her former husband Michael Ray Comte.

Theresa will be so missed by her daughter, Allison Comte McCauley and husband Reese of Willis; her son, Ryan Woosley of Jasper; five grandchildren, Trent Whitehead and wife Kristen of Pearland; Brady Whitehead of Austin; Griffin Whitehead of Greenbank, Washington; and Katelyn Teague and Maddox McCauley of Willis; a great-grandson, Aiden Moreno of Pearland; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Michael and Rebecca Wilson, Steven and Judy Wilson, and Jeffery and Lisa Lowe Wilson, all of Jasper; nieces and nephews, Wendy Morgan and husband Andy of Mont Belvieu, Matt Wilson and Kelsey Wilson of Jasper, Jeffery Wilson of Royse City, Walker-Ann Phillips and husband Connor of Jasper, and Macy Wilson of San Antonio; and great-nieces and great-nephew, Chloe, Colby and Clara Morgan of Mont Belvieu and Annalise Wilson of Jasper. She also leaves a host of cousins, work colleagues and friends.

Theresa's cousins Susie Culver, Diane Etue and Brenda Gunter were honored to assist Allison and Ryan as caregivers during Theresa's final months.

Services were arranged through Cochran Funeral Home in Livingston. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m., at First National Bank Community Room, 247 E. Houston St., in Jasper. A private burial will take place at Holton-Grigsby Cemetery in Beech Grove.

Memorial contributions may be made to one of the following organizations:

●      Jasper Lakes Area Humane Society, PO Box 1104, Jasper, TX 75951

●      City of Jasper Animal Shelter, c/o City of Jasper, 465 S. Main St., Jasper, TX 75951

●      Beech Grove Volunteer Fire Department, 10230 FM 777, Jasper, TX 75951