Theresa Ann "Terry" Root

On June 12, 2025, Theresa (Terry) Ann Root, was surrounded by loved ones when she peacefully transitioned from her life on earth to a beautiful life in the Universe. She had been under hospice care at her home the past few months.

Theresa was born July 8, 1933 at home to Charles and Myrtle Henderson. She lived in the Kansas City area most of her life. She attended Manual High School and graduated in 1951. After graduation, she joined the U.S. Navy, following in her brothers’ footsteps. Her career field in the Navy was as an Air Traffic Controller. While stationed at Patuxent River Maryland, she landed the Blue Angels as part of a training mission. This was the highlight of her Naval career.

In 1953 while stationed at Jacksonville FL, she met and married Ted Root. Ted and Theresa had one daughter, Terri Jean Root, born in 1956. They later divorced. After being discharged from the Navy, Theresa started her career at Southwestern Bell. She worked as an operator for many years and worked her way up to a Repeater Technician. She retired in 1985.

Theresa was a huge Chiefs fan. She and Karen had season tickets for many years, attending the games in all kinds of weather. She actually attended Super Bowl IV in New Orleans at Tulane Stadium where the Chiefs beat the Minnesota Vikings. She was so excited when the Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV fifty years later. When she was unable to attend the games in person, she watched at home dressed in her Chiefs red.

Theresa spent her retirement years helping with her grandchildren, working in the yard, bowling and playing horseshoes. She loved to travel and had several wonderful trips with her best friend, Karen Clark. They spent several winters in Bradenton FL and loved to go to Anna Maria Island.

Theresa was a strong, no-nonsense, independent woman who always stood up for what was right. She didn’t back down and held tight to her beliefs. She will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother (the Enforcer, known for her tough-but-fair-and-caring attitude) GG, sister, aunt and friend. She was a wonderful role model to the young people in her life and led by example, demonstrating that a woman could achieve anything she set her mind to.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Myrtle Henderson; two sisters, Adair Puff and Jewell Volkmer; and two brothers, Charles Henderson and Jim Henderson,

Theresa leaves behind her daughter, Terri Jackson and husband Kevin, granddaughter Ashley Hirt, grandson Nate Hirt and wife Emily, great-grandchildren Hazel and Noah Hirt, longtime friend and caregiver, Karen Clark, and many nieces and nephews.

Services are pending in the early fall.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Always and Furever Midwest Animal Sanctuary, https://www.alwaysandfurever.org.

A special thanks to the Interim Home Health and Hospice team, especially Savannah and Karen for the kind compassionate care provided to Theresa and her family.