Theresa Dunnaway

1957 - 2026

Aug 2, 1957 - Feb 12, 2026

Theresa (Terry) Elaine Mathias Dunnaway died peacefully at her home on February 12, 2026. Terry was born August 2, 1957, in Kansas City, Mo. She was the daughter of Curtis L. Mathias and Lottie E. (Parker) Mathias.

The family moved to Kansas in 1969 and made their home near the family farm in Princeton, Kansas where Terry graduated from Central Heights High School in Richmond, Kansas. Terry would be the first to tell you, rural living was not something that she was excited about; however, she made many lifelong friends during her time in Princeton. Terry married Jerry M. Dunnaway on July 31,1982 in Perry, Kansas. To the marriage two sons were born, Justin Michael (Chelsey) of Perry, Kansas, and Austin Parker of Lawrence, Kansas.

Terry began working at H.D. Lee in Ottawa, Ks after high school. However, when Jerry and Terry married, she became a housewife and stay at home mom for the first 16 years of their marriage. She then became an in-home daycare provider, and then worked at the Perry Carpet Shack in Perry, KS. Terry finished her working life at the Barnett Family Funeral Home in Oskaloosa, KS.

In the Perry community, Terry was a member of the Perry United Methodist Church as well as the United Methodist Women's group. She was also a member of Perry-Lecompton PTO, and she was someone the teachers could call upon for anything they needed help with. She was an officer of Boys Scout Troop 82 during both of the boys' scouting years. Her summers were always at a ball field somewhere watching Jerry coach both boys' baseball teams. Being a mom was the greatest blessing in her life, and she was proud of them both so much. Family was very important to Terry, whether it was as a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, sister-in-law, daughter-in-law, aunt, or friend. Each and every one of you was very important to her. When you think of her, I hope it brings a smile to your heart, because that's where she carried each and every one of us-in her heart.

Terry was proceeded in death by both her parents (Curtis and Lottie), her husband (Jerry), and one sister (Frankye Cooper). Terry is survived by her two sons, Justin (Chelsey), and Austin, five granddaughters (Jaceigh, Lyndee, Kenzie, Brooke, and Mylie), and three sisters, Linda (Jim) Fivian of Griffen, Georgia, Sandra (Rod) Lennard of Bella Visa, Arkansas, and Judy (Don) Goebel of Texas. Terry is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and friends who she considered family.

A Memorial Service for Terry will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 7th, 2026 at the Perry United Methodist Church. As per her wishes, Cremation Care is planned. Inurnment will be at the Oak Ridge Cemetery, Perry, KS.