Theresa Marie "Reesy" Chambers

Theresa Marie "Reesy" Chambers
On Friday, November 14, 2014, Reesy Chambers was 61 years old when she fell asleep in death. She finished her battle with Neurosarcoidosis, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease.
Born on March 8, 1953, in Portage, Wisconsin, to Gerald and Marion Pedersen, the second of their two daughters, from an early age, Reesy dealt with many physical problems including kidney failure and a severe spinal deformity. However, what she lacked in physical strength, she made up for in personality. As she grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, she gained strength and enjoyed pretty much a normal life as she went to school and began to work in various offices including Wisconsin Physicians Service and Job Service. Reesy was raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses and was baptized in January of 1969.
She graduated from Stoughton High School in 1971 and married Taylor Chambers on May 1, 1977. They lived in Madison, Wisconsin, and Rifle, Colorado. But it was beautiful Emigrant, Montana that finally got to them where they bought land and started planning their dream home in Paradise Valley. However, times being what they were and not finding enough work, Taylor moved them back to Madison where they could recover financially. Selling their dream was so hard and both felt the disappointment of having to give up and go home. Taylor was a finishing carpenter and Reesy worked in accounts receivable/accounts payable for Urban Land Interests (ULI) in Madison. Their marriage lasted 20 years which included an unforgettable trip to Ireland.
Reesy never had any children of her own, she said her dogs were her babies. Three Pembroke Welch Corgis named Sebastian Hoy, Jillian Perry, and Diamond Rio found soft places in her heart. Sports also played a large part in her life and she loved watching Badger hockey, football, and basketball, the Green Bay Packers, the Montana Grizzlies, and professional wrestling on TV. A huge thrill in her life was the day she was invited to have lunch with Kevin Nash and she flew all the way to Orlando to attend. A special interest was running a promotional website for wrestler Jerry Lynn and she attended many of his wrestling events. Reesy loved Native American artwork, cobalt blue dishes, and really good rock and roll.
In July of 2009, Reesy made the decision to move to Missoula, Montana, to be closer to family. Her decision was made not only because of the failing health of her parents who had moved here in 2004, but also because her own health problems were becoming more evident as each day passed. For a time she enjoyed her view of the Clark Fork River, the herd of big horn sheep that wandered nearby, and the closeness of her family from her mobile home on the river. However, in 2013 her health began to fail at an alarming rate and she finally collapsed on July 4, 2013. After spending four months in St. Patrick Hospital, she moved to the Missoula Health and Rehabilitation Center in the Rattlesnake Canyon. She spent her last year in this facility, although she never gave up her goal to someday move back home.
In her final days, she knew that she would have to wait just a little bit longer to have her own house once again. She firmly believed in Isaiah 33:24 which describes a better, more enjoyable life, "And no resident will say: "'I am sick.'" And after her nap we will see Reesy again, whole and healthy.
Those gone before her were her grandparents, Harvey and Hazel Pedersen, Ruby Black, Robert J. Black, and Ellen Black; father Jerry Pedersen, aunt Donna Jean Wachlin, uncles Rob and Ron Black who were twins that died in infancy, Uncle Bobby Black, cousins, David Moore, Sonya and Serena Moore; her father- and mother-in-law Frank and Roselle Chambers.
Survivors include her sister Jeris (Lynn) Halverson, mother Marion Pedersen, nephew Erik Leif Halverson, and niece Anna (Dave) Helander; Aunt Mary Black, cousins Sandi Price and Jim Black; cousins Scott Wachlin, Laura Moore, and Raymond Wachlin and numerous second and third cousins. Also, special cousins Diane Capener, Janelle Owens, and Lise Triggs, and close friends June Everson and Jerry Lynn. Special thanks to Hospice of Missoula, especially Jani who was with her at the last, for all your kindness and loving care and to the administration and staff of Missoula Health and Rehabilitation. You all made her last days so much easier to bear and you took care of her in a way that her family could not.
Cremation and Burial Society of the Rockies is in charge of arrangements and local services are planned for a future date. Reesy loved all animals and per her wishes if anyone desired to contribute toward the prevention of cruelty to animals, it would make her heart happy. Also, it is suggested that donations may be made to Missoula Health and Rehabilitation Center, 3018 Rattlesnake Drive, Missoula, MT 59802 or Hospice of Missoula, 800 Kensington, Suite 204, Missoula, MT 59801.


Read Theresa Chambers's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.