September 27, 1949 - September 13, 2022
Teresa was born in Portland, Indiana, the first child of Max and Virginia McCrory. In second grade, at Pennville School, she decided she wanted to be an art teacher, just like her favorite teacher, Mrs. Starbuck. She never wavered from that dream. She grew to be tall and statuesque with beautiful mahogany color hair and eyes. Rembrandt would have loved to paint her portrait. Teresa’s artistic talent flourished at Ball State University where she earned a Bachelors degree in Art Education with honors. She proudly started her teaching career in southern Indiana. While teaching she completed a Masters degree in Art Education from Indiana University. For decades Teresa taught Studio Art and A.P. Art History at Amphitheater High School in Tucson, Arizona. She also directed the Fine Arts program that included Art, Photography, Music, Film and Drama. Initially called Mrs. Cox and then Mrs. McCrory she was voted Teacher of the Year three times. Teresa inspired her studio art students through a patient, gentle and nurturing lens to express themselves and their ideas in their creations. In AP Art History she encouraged students to be curious, non-judgmental and to ask questions. Teresa was a prolific oil painting artist. She captured and then abstracted nature’s many atmospheric personalities in color, light, texture, line and shadow. Along with her passion for teaching and painting Teresa loved to travel. She took numerous student groups on art history tours to Europe and California. Retirement allowed her to travel, paint and fall in love with her only grandchild who called her “Maemo”. Teresa enjoyed close ties with friends throughout her lifetime. She called her closest friends from childhood “the Peggie’s” because they shared the name Peggy. They crossed the country often to spend time together. In Tucson her favorite friend was Charisse. They had an unbreakable bond for decades based on love, laughter and sports. Teresa loved the Indianapolis Colts, IU Hoosiers and Arizona Wildcats and enjoyed texting sports news to friends and family members. When Teresa learned she had terminal cancer she decided to spend her remaining time with family and friends. They came from all over the country and “brought buckets of love” according to her daughter. Teresa had an overwhelming sense of grace that held the family together right up to the end. Desperately missing her are her daughter Courtney, son-in-law and sports buddy Scott and her beloved granddaughter Teagan. Also mourning her are her sister Rebecca, brother-in-law Ernie, sister-in-law Deborah, nephew Craig, his wife Dawn, niece Lauren, nephew Julian and great-nephew Conner. Preceding her in death were her parents and her brother David. A private memorial tribute is planned for December in Del Mar, CA. A reception will follow. In Teresa’s memory go to an art museum, donate to www.americansforthearts.org or look for her in an evening sunset.
