Theresa Yvonne McNeil

Estelle M. (Kellar) McNeil and Andrew McNeil welcomed their daughter Theresa to the world on September 13, 1949, in Seattle, Washington. Despite being born with unique challenges, Theresa was guided and nurtured alongside her four siblings and thrived. With the steadfast love and support of her family, she lived a full and meaningful life that defied all diagnoses and predictions.

Theresa was educated at Fircrest School in Shoreline and the former Pacific School in Seattle. She furthered her development through the life skills services offered at Northwest Center and was trained in their employment program. Theresa proudly and diligently “worked” for many years at the Center, independently riding the Metro bus from her home in Beacon Hill to their Interbay location and back. In more recent years she spent her days at ElderHealth Northwest adult day health center in Seattle where she participated in exercise and other customized activities.

In her young adult years, we cheered Theresa on as a Special Olympics athlete. She brought home several medals and made lots of friends. She also demonstrated her creative talents with arts and crafts by making latch hook yarn projects, mastering simple knitting stitches, and coloring felt posters. Theresa enjoyed watching her favorite TV shows – especially “The Young and The Restless” and “The Golden Girls” – and joyfully participating in family gatherings.

Theresa’s favorite pastime was singing and dancing to good music! At any time and any place, she would enthusiastically sing along with familiar songs (even if she didn’t really know all the words) and entertain us with her signature moves. She particularly loved church songs, Christmas carols and Michael Jackson!

What made Theresa “special” was not her developmental disabilities. It was her vibrant personality, spectacular smile, and those beautiful green eyes. Her feisty disposition and ability to stand up for herself when needed. It was her authentic love for people, especially her family. Theresa’s most precious gift was the ability to make each person she knew feel like the most important and treasured person in the world. She made a lasting imprint on the lives of everyone that ever met her.

Theresa Yvonne McNeil was preceded in death by her devoted mother Estelle M. Jackson, stepfather James E. Jackson, Jr., and bonus sister Francyne Darrett Phillips. Her legacy of love lives on through her sisters Maryfrances Bailey, Lois A. Vaughn, and Jeanné M. Parramore; her brother Reginald B. McNeil (Gina); three generations of nieces and nephews, and a host of cousins and friends.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Evergreen-Washelli.com for the McNeil family.

There will be a private memorial service and graveside service on Saturday, September 25, 2021.