Theresa Strite

Born June 18, 1959 in Moses Lake, Wash. to William and Loretta (Rogers) Weller. The family moved around the state while her father was in the military. After her mother's death, Theresa moved to Wenatchee, Wash. to live with her grandparents William (Poppy) and Dorothy Rogers. She attended Wenatchee High School, graduating in 1977. She then moved to Spokane, Wash. where she attended Kinman Business University.

While in Spokane, she met her future husband Steve Strite and the two were married on March 10, 1979 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Due to Steve's work, they moved to various small towns before settling in Moses Lake in 1981.

Theresa ran a daycare out of her home for many years but stopped the daycare when she went to the University of Washington for her cancer treatments. She loved each and every one of the children who passed through her daycare. Her latest children were Brian, Megan, Jocelyn, Chad, Paul, Erin, Sean and Lauren. They gave her the "Quilt of Love". A square was made by each child and then their mothers had it put together. Theresa had this quilt with her at all times and it gave her much comfort.

She fought a valiant fight but went to be with the Lord on March 20, 2005 at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. Theresa loved crafts, kids, camping and the outdoors. She loved going to their property in Chewelah, Wash. where she and Steve and started to have a home built in which she had picked out all of the inside decor. This was a dream home for the two of them that, due to her illness and valiant fight, she passed away without ever seeing the finished home.

Theresa has left a gaping hole in the hearts of many and we will be forever grateful to have had her touch our lives and to be a part of our families. She is survived by her husband of 26 years, Steve, at the home. Two daughters Kristine and Kerry Strite, both of Moses Lake. Four brothers and one sister: Pat and Tammy Weller of Fredricksburg, Va.; Ed and Kim Weller of Maple Valley, Wash.; Shawn Weller of Deer Lodge, Mont.; Lynn Weller of Renton, Wash.; and Gayle Frazier of East Wenatchee, Wash. Father and mother-in-law Bill and Bee Strite of Cheney, Wash. and brothers-in-law Bill and Becky Strite of Colville, Wash.; Lorne Strite of Cheney, Wash.; and Mike and Tania Strite of Davenport, Wash. Numerous nieces and nephews and aunts, uncles and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her parents William and Loretta Weller, grandparents, including, William (Poppy) and Dorothy Rogers and one brother, Rodney Weller.

Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. at the Moses Lake United Methodist Church, 746 Ironwood Dr., Moses Lake, Wash. with Pastor Jen Clark officiating. Memorials may be made to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, PO Box 19023, Seattle, Wash. 98109 or to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Foundation, PO Box 19024, J5-200, Seattle, Wash. 98109-1024.

Strate Funeral Home, Davenport, Wash. is in charge of the arrangements.