Theresa McKinney

Theresa Anne McKinney, beloved wife, daughter, sister, aunt, mother of two and grandmother (Oma,) passed away on May 18, 2019 at home surrounded by those who loved her deeply. Theresa was 58 years old.

Theresa was born to Adolph and Oline (nee Schaefer) Gaitz September 9, 1960 in Houston, Texas where the couple and their three children resided, Theresa being the youngest. Theresa enjoyed and excelled at competitive ice skating in her younger years. She graduated from St. Pius High School in Houston, Texas where she accompanied the school band as a baton twirler.

Theresa later married and had two children. She raised them both in Sugar Land, Texas. While juggling work and family Theresa later earned her Associate’s Degree from the University of St. Thomas.

Theresa worked with her brother at his law firm, Gaitz and Associates, P.C. There, Theresa served as the office manager for the firm and escrow officer for real estate closings for the Texas American Title Company. Theresa’s institutional knowledge of bankruptcy proceedings later paved the way to her work for a bankruptcy trustee.

In 2002 Theresa met Leon Kaplan online, eventually marrying in 2004 and residing in Sugar Land, Texas.

In 2011, when her brother Michael unexpectedly passed away, Theresa filled her brother’s shoes and managed multiple real estate ventures, a community newspaper, and a local piano bar called Michael’s Outpost. Theresa’s determination and grit ensured that the neighborhood establishment not only survived, but also thrived. Working together, Theresa and Leon conceived the idea of a Female Celebrity Illusion Show called Eye Cons which is now, in its eighth season, the longest running such show in Houston. Building on the success of Eye Cons three more shows were added over time with the stated principles that all shows at Michael’s Outpost would be done with taste and elegance and executed with the same degree of excellence required of theatre professionals. As a result, the shows have garnered multiple BEST OF honors since their inception. In recognition of the success of Michael’s Outpost the local community made Theresa their Honorary Godmother of Montrose.

Theresa was a vocal and active advocate for the Fort Bend Women’s Center. She was invited to join the Board of Directors and was elected as Board Secretary. Theresa’s work within the organization led her to liaison with the United Way of Greater Houston where she was able to speak to businesses and organizations throughout the Houston community, including the Houston Chronicle and the Houston Texans. Theresa was honored with the President’s Award from the Women’s Center for her efforts in successfully raising funds for the organization.

Theresa leaves behind her husband, Leon Kaplan, her son Christopher (Sarah) McKinney, her daughter Stephanie McKinney (Tobin Mathews,) her stepdaughter Susan Emily Kaplan (Robert) Vaughn, her granddaughter Charlotte McKinney, her mother Oline Theresia Schaefer Gaitz, her brother Charles Allen (Denise) Gaitz, her nephews Charles Eric (Michelle) Gaitz and Dietrich Gaitz (Karissa Casares), and her nieces Tonya Gaitz (Courtney Lynne Gaspard) and Felicia Decker. Theresa is preceded in death by her father Adolph Michael Gaitz and her brother Michael Adolph Gaitz.

Donations in Theresa’s name may be made to either the Women Resource Center of Fort Bend County or to St. Laurence Catholic Church in Sugar Land, Texas or to a charity of personal meaning.

The family wishes to thank the caregivers Dr. Meg Bhandari, Dr. Nicholas Daura, The Texas Oncology Center, Methodist Hospital Sugar Land, Kindred Hospital Sugar Land, and AMed Hospice Houston, Texas.

Services will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at Chapel of Eternal Peace at Forest Park Funeral Home 2454 S. Dairy Ashford Road, Houston, Texas 77077. The Viewing will be from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The Rosary will be recited at 1:15 p.m. The Service will commence at 2:00 p.m. with a Christian burial at 3:00 p.m. Following the burial, a Reception with follow at Chapel of Eternal Peace at Forest Park.