Teresa Beatrice Healey Vossler

Teresa Beatrice Healey Vossler, 101, died at home in Lawrence on December 2, 2012. Known as Tess to her family, she was born in Wellsville, NY, on November 17, 1911, the third child and only daughter of Edmund James Healey and Annabelle Harris Healey.
Teresa lived in Wellsville for the first forty years of her life, graduating from high school in 1929 where she was an active member of many clubs, holding leadership positions in several. After graduation, she worked as a nurse's aide and later was a buyer for a local department store.
In 1950, Teresa married Roy Vossler whose oil production business brought them to Osawatomie, KS, in 1951. With the arrival of three children in three years, initial homesickness soon turned into a busy and rewarding life of family, new friendships, and community involvement.
Teresa opened Kiddie Korner Nursery School in 1968, the first preschool in Osawatomie, which she owned and operated for the next 25 years. Retiring at the age of 79, it was work she loved, and it kept her young.
She served on the Osawatomie Library Board and the local United Fund Committee for many years. She was a member of the Miami County Retired Teachers' Association, E. H. U., and the American Contract Bridge League. She was an active member and frequent officer of the Monday Club, an affiliate of G. F. W. C., serving as chairman of their District Music Auditions for 11 years. Upon her husband's death in 1971, Teresa was appointed to fulfill the remainder of his term on the Osawatomie School Board. She remained a member of that Board and an education advocate for the next 16 years.
Teresa was a storyteller, whose quick wit and lively sense of humor always made for a memorable conversation, even in her final years. She enjoyed entertaining, travel, playing the piano, a good book, a tricky crossword, a trip to the opera, a challenging bridge game, and pie ala mode. She had a true gift for friendship and a natural ability to connect with people of all ages. But most of all, Teresa loved her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy, her daughter, Cathy, and three brothers, George, Edmund, and Robert Healey.
Teresa is survived by her son, Steve, and daughter, Sue, both of Lawrence; her son-in-law, Enrique Dos Santos, and seven grandchildren, Steven, Alex, Peter, Craig, Phillip, Merritt, and Jillian Dos Santos, all of Columbia, MO.
A private family burial will be held in Osawatomie. A memorial celebration will follow in the spring. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Roy and Teresa Vossler Scholarship, Osawatomie High School, 1200 Trojan Drive, Osawatomie, KS, 66064 or Douglas County VNA, 200 Maine Street, Lawrence, KS, 66044.
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