Therese Marie Morris

Therese "Terry" Morris February 4, 1958 - October 6, 2026

After fighting a long and courageous battle with cancer, Terry passed away peacefully at the age of 68, surrounded by her loving family. Throughout her journey, she demonstrated remarkable strength and resilience.

Terry was the youngest of five children born to Karl and Lucille (Heiing) Grossmann. As the "baby" of the family, she was doted on by her older siblings. She was often the "chaperone" on her older sisters' dates and tagged along on many of their adventures. She and her siblings remained very close throughout her entire life, spending lots of holidays and vacations together, making countless memories.

Terry resided in the Toledo area her entire life. She attended grade school at Most Blessed Sacrament and graduated from Notre Dame Academy 50 years ago in 1976. After high school, she attended the University of Toledo where in 1979 she received a Bachelors in Education in Speech Pathology, with additional studies in Deaf and Special Education. In 1981, she graduated from Miami University with a Masters Degree in Speech Pathology with Emphasis in Early Childhood.

She used her education, knowledge, and passion to serve countless children and families throughout her career. Her professional journey took her through a variety of roles and organizations, always allowing her to make a difference in the lives of those she served. She began her career as a speech and language pathologist before moving into the classroom at Cherry Preschool, within Toledo Public Schools. She went on to do consulting work for the State Department of Education and served as a regional early childhood coordinator.

Terry eventually found a home in Sylvania Schools, where she spent 14 years following her passion for special education and early childhood education. Her dedication to children and families was evident in everything she did. She approached her work with the same compassion, patience, and commitment that she brought to every part of her life. In 2007, she was awarded Sylvania Schools Educator of the Year. Even after retirement, she couldn't quite stay away from the world of education and continued to share her gifts as a preschool intervention specialist. Education was more than a career for her-it was one of the many ways she loved, served, and made a lasting difference in the lives of others.

On August 17, 1985, she married her husband, John Charles Morris, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Sylvania, Ohio. Together, they built a wonderful life over 41 years, raising two daughters and creating a lifetime of memories along the way. Whether they were gathered around a campfire, spending long summer days at the lake, or simply enjoying time together as a family, those years were filled with love, laughter, and memories that will be cherished forever.

As a mom, she had a way of making the impossible seem possible. She gave the best advice, planned the best birthday parties, and could always solve any problem when things didn't go as planned. If there was a dream to be chased or a problem to solve, she would figure out a way. She showed her love in a thousand different ways, big and small, always making sure her children felt supported, celebrated, and cared for.

While she wore many different hats in her life, her favorite title of them all was "Grandma". Her grandchildren were her greatest joy. "Grandma Terry" never missed a game or recital, no matter the weather or time of day. She always showed up to support them in all they did and never said no to a stop in the gift shop after an outing. Some of her happiest moments were the simplest ones: playing a game with them around the table, reading a book together, or volunteering in their classrooms at school. She treasured every opportunity to be present in their lives.

One of the things that defined her most was her giving heart. She was always serving others, finding ways to lend a hand, offering encouragement, or making someone feel cared for. Even while facing the immense challenges of her own battle with cancer, she continued to think of others and gave of herself in any way she could. Her strength was evident not only in the way she fought her illness, but also in the way she continued to love and serve those around her through it all. Helping others came naturally to her; it was simply part of who she was.

Terry is survived by her loving husband John; her daughters Ashley (Bradley) Brown and Katlyn (Jacob) Catama; her grandchildren Owen and Emersyn; her brothers Joseph Grossmann and John (Mary Lou) Grossmann; her sisters Mary (Pierre) Vauthy and Celeste (Bob) Browning; and a host of nieces and nephews, including those who lovingly called her "Aunt Friend." She was preceded in death by her parents, Karl Joseph and Lucille Mildred (Heiing) Grossmann.

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 12th, 2026 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave, Toledo, Ohio 43623. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 13th, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. at Corpus Christi University Parish, 2955 Dorr Street, Toledo, Ohio 43607. Burial will be immediately following the Funeral Mass at Calvary Cemetery.

Donations in her memory can be made to the Sylvania Schools Foundation at: https://www.sylvaniaschoolsfoundation.org/donation. In the notes box, please write "In Memory of Therese Morris."