Theresa Marie Willoughby

Theresa Stump Willoughby passed away peacefully in her sleep, at the age of 62, during the early morning hours of February 20, 2024, after a short battle with cancer. During the last 6 months of her life she fought hard, moving to Utah to undergo treatment. These months have brought so much joy to her family.

Theresa was born in Oklahoma City on August 7, 1961 to Margaret and Don Stump. She grew up in Yukon, OK where she graduated from Southern Nazarene University earning a degree in Nursing. Theresa raised her son Chris Stump and together they conquered anything that came their way.  Theresa had a passion for making, building, and creating anything she could imagine and became extremely talented in her abilities. Theresa became a nurse but spent the majority of her years creating and teaching medical coding procedures as a Medical Coding Director.  She had a great ability to teach people in a way they could understand and learn.

The one thing Theresa loved the absolute most was being a grandma. Whether she lived near or far, the distance never stopped her from showing her love to her grandchildren.  Theresa would send fun boxes or plan summer camps for them, and recently she was able to go on vacation to Disney World with them. Memories of her laughter will fill their hearts for years to come. Theresa had this amazing ability to bring family together, when Theresa was there everyone wanted to be there. Her smile and gift to talk to anyone about anything created a uniquely warm and inviting environment. We are so happy that Theresa has now been reunited with her loving husband, Phil who passed away in April 2023. Not a day went by that she didn't think of him and share memories of all the good times they had together.

Theresa is survived by her son Chris (Tara) Stump, mother Margaret Stump, siblings Mike (Pam) Stump, Debbie (Scott) Sanders, and grandchildren Sophia, Olivia, Natalia, Lillian, and Axel.

Theresa lived large. Her goal in life was to live the Golden Rule and have fun doing it.  She followed the philosophy of Ralph Waldo Emerson that the purpose of life is not only to be happy but also "to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well."  We will carry her example of living and loving with us until we meet again. And we know that through the coming years of both tears and laughter, Theresa will be close by to share both the joys and the sorrows, with those she loves so deeply.

Please join us for a life celebration on Saturday February 24, 2024 from 2pm-4pm at Yanda and Son Funeral Home.

The family expresses gratitude to all who have gone out of their way to support us during this tender and difficult time.