Dr. Teresa Teri Tapp

Teri, 69 years young, passed away at Denver Hospice. Teri grew up in Prarie Village, KS, graduating from Shawnee Mission East High School in 1970. She moved her family to Colorado in 1989 and remained there for the rest of her life. Teri's first employment was at K.C. Tool Warehouse Company in KCMO and lasted for 20 years. During those years, she began her family and in her spare time she was devoted to the Heart of America "Cub Scout" Council where she became a Den Leader and an Adult Training Leader. She was the Program Director for the Camp Naish Cub Scout Summer Camps for 2 years as the "Dragon Lady" and "Lucky Duck" She completed her Wood Badge Training at NC-CS-9 and was awarded the District Medal of Honor for her volunteer work. While in Colorado, Teri finished her BA in Psychology, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1993. After completing her MA in Communication and beginning her new teaching career at the University of Colorado, Denver and Metropolitan State University, Denver, Teri continued her education and received her Ph.D. in Human Communication at Denver University in 2004. During her doctoral program, Teri was selected for a visiting professor position at the International College of Beijing, China, and lived in Beijing from Oct 2000 - May 2001. Teri continued her teaching career at Metropolitan State University unitl her death. Teri is preceded in death by her parents, Rita and L.Z. "Tex" Tapp, and her husband Daniel W. Petersen. Teri is survived by her children, Jason (Fernando) Tapp, and Anna (Steven) Steelfox; her grandchildren Haylee Steelfox, Kian Long, Mason Long, Sarah Steelfox and Jace Steelfox; and two brothers, Zac (Jenni) Tapp and Josh (Brenae) Tapp with nephews Andrew, Sean, Mastin and Khael Tapp. Additionally, Teri had several lifelong friends including her cousin, Deborah RMA (Dennis) Bancroft, all of whom she cherished and appreciated. Her lifelong wish was for everyone to "bring kindness to each other" and "give miles of smiles".