Theresa Jane Searles Obituary (1930 - 2017)

Theresa Searles, aged 87, died peacefully on October 2, 2017 at Takoma Regional Hospital, after suffering a stroke. Theresa was born August 5, 1930, in Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada, the fourth daughter of Ernest Morand and Elizabeth Kavanaugh Morand. Theresa thoroughly enjoyed spending time with family, being outdoors, dancing and music. She was an active gardener and enjoyed the fruits and vegetables from her gardens for many years. In 1953, Theresa married the love of her life John (Jack) James Searles in Detroit, Michigan. Jack and Theresa lived in the Detroit and Chicago areas during Jack's 35-year engineering career with Ford Motor Company. Upon retirement Jack and Theresa moved to Texas to be near their children who had previously relocated there. They played golf and traveled to visit family and friends across the US and Canada. After Jack passed away in 2008, Theresa gave up her home and lived with her children in Texas, North Carolina and Tennessee for her final 6 years. In addition to raising their six children, Jack and Theresa were active members of the Catholic Church in every community in which they lived. Theresa is survived by her children: Sue (Jim) Kimbrell of Charlotte, NC, Steve (Shelly) Searles of Pompano Beach, FL, Rich (Darla) Searles of McKinney, TX, Sandy (Mark) Dawson of Melissa, TX, Patty (Tracy) Solomon of Greeneville, TN and Sally (Vince) Hughes of College Station, TX. She leaves behind ten grandchildren: Kyle, Tyler and Dylan Searles, Logan Kimbrell, Steven and Nick Searles, Chance and Cortney Dawson and Ben and Will Hughes. She also leaves behind four great-grandchildren: Aiden and Kyley Searles (Steven), Lowery Searles (Kyle), and Finley Kimbrell (Logan) which is due this December. She was dearly loved and will be missed by many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews in California, Florida, Arizona and Canada. There will be a public "Celebration of Life" for Theresa on Saturday, October 7 at the Capitol Theatre in Greeneville, TN from 12:00-3:00 p.m. There will also be a family memorial service later this year at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Richardson, TX where Jack is interred. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent in her name to The Greene Co. Humane Society https://gchumanesociety.com/donate, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) https://www2.jdrf.org/site/Donation2?2376.donation or MD Anderson Cancer Center https://www.mdanderson.org/donors-volunteers/donate/raise-money.html To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Theresa Jane Searles, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store. print Print Obituary