TERESA ANNE THOMAS
August 20, 1951 April 9, 2022
Terrie was the youngest of 3 children born to Warren and Jeanne Bowen, having 2 older brothers. She grew up in an era when children spent most of their time outdoors with freedom to explore, interact with all the neighbors, enjoy running in open fields and be carefree.
She was loved unconditionally and dearly by her parents and grandparents, something she took for granted until she was an adult and found that many people did not have that foundation.
She lived in Fullerton until age 20. She graduated from Fullerton Union High School where many lifelong friendships were made. She was a child of the sixties, spending teen summers at the beach. Beach Boys, Beatles, on and on.
She graduated from Humboldt State University in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Ethnic Studies, after which she went to work for the US Forest Service in Hat Creek CA as a member of one of the first all women engine crews. She continued working in fire suppression on the helicopter fire crew in Chester CA alongside her future husband Joel.
They were married December 16, 1978. Their son Adam was born April 10, 1982. After career changes they found themselves in Chico CA where Joel worked at Enloe Hospital as a nuclear medicine technologist, and Terrie at the Chico Tree Improvement Center grafting pine and fir trees for reforestation.
She was fortunate enough to be a stay-at-home mom for 4 years after which she went to work for Chico Unified School District, first as a classroom aide and then as school health aide. Adam was lucky he could go to school with Mom until he entered middle school.
Terrie worked for Chico Unified for 19 years, where she ran the heath office with compassion, humor, efficiency and a great love for children.
The focus of Terrie’s summers was always maintaining a large and productive organic vegetable garden, and as often as possible camping with Joel, Adam and Adam’s friends in the Mt. Lassen/ Lake Almanor area.
Later on, Terrie and Joel acquired a “vintage” retro trailer which became their cabin on wheels, always with beloved dogs in tow.
Terrie was diagnosed with ductal breast cancer at age 45. After taking a year off for treatments, she became a volunteer for Reach for Recovery, where she formed close bonds with other breast cancer survivors.
Terrie retired from CUSD at age 56, and spent many hours volunteering at the Butte Humane Society while caring for her own 3 senior dogs at home. She formed 2 book groups with friends from different areas of her life. She was active in her church, and served as an elder and Stephen Minister as well as maintaining the Chapel Garden and attending a small women’s group.
She became interested in birds, and kept a running log of which of her backyard friends appeared yearly, and spent countless hours in Upper Bidwell Park with bird book, camera and binoculars in hand, but often with just her Border Collie mix Gussie at her side.
She became a member of the Chico Horticulture Society, which influenced her in turning her back yard into a drought resistant native plant garden. She supported Audubon, Sierra Club, California State Parks, and other conservation groups too numerous to recount.
At age 65, Terrie got breast cancer again, this time lobular – the sneaky, slow growing kind. She carried on as usual until December 2021, 2 months after Joel retired. Complaining of headaches, a CT scan revealed metastatic cancer to her brain. There were too many tumors to treat. She went into hospice for 4 months, cared for by Joel and Adam, who loved her dearly until the very end.
Terrie is survived by her husband of 43 years Joel, her son Adam (Lindsey), their 2 children Lincoln and Alexandra, her 2 older brothers Chris and Dan and their families. She is predeceased by her parents.
There will be a Celebration of Life at noon June 11 in the fellowship hall of the First Christian Church in Chico, 295 East Washington Avenue.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Breast Cancer Research Center.