Teresa Gail (Anderson) Burton

“But we do not want you to be uninformed about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do, who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”- 1 Thessalonians 4:11-14

On October 17, 2024 Teresa “Terry” Gail (Anderson) Burton entered her eternal rest at the age of 73, after a valiant but all too brief fight with pancreatic cancer. She passed away peacefully in hospice holding the hand of her beloved husband Leroy, as he was speaking words of love, peace and comfort over her.

Terry was born on May 10, 1951, to Duane Ernest Anderson and Dorothy “Snooks” Alice (Tenneson) Anderson, the eldest of 3 daughters, followed by sisters Kimberly (Anderson) Byrne, and Denise “Teek” (Anderson) Criss.

Born in Seattle, Washington and raised in Mountlake Terrace, Washington, Terry graduated from Mountlake Terrace High School in 1969. In Terry’s younger years, she was known as a bit of a “jock”, and childhood friends will attest that she was the fastest girl on the playground, and she could throw a surprisingly mean baseball! She enjoyed listening to the smooth sounds of Marvin Gaye, Teddy Pendergrass and Luther Vandross. She also had a whimsical penchant for giving nicknames to certain lucky family or friends, that would sometimes stick with them for life.

From 1970-1973 Terry was married to Tom Amble, and they welcomed their son Chad. After the marriage, Terry was a fierce and hardworking single mother, making sure that Chad was brought up with the support of a large extended family, including many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Terry worked a variety of jobs, including Vernell’s Candy Factory, Society Candy Factory, and Mission Macaroni Factory. Terry was committed to her continuing education, and bettering life for herself and Chad, taking medical assistant classes at night while continuing to work her day jobs, and eventually becoming a Certified Medical Assistant at Kaiser Permanente (Formerly Group Health). She began her long career with Group Health as a clerk in the Radiology file room in 1983, and in 1985 she began her position as a Certified Medical Assistant, where she spent many years working in the orthopedic department, where many looked to her as a leader. In her “post retirement” she worked in the Specialty Center float pool in Otolaryngology at Kaiser. She also enjoyed working part time at Boehm’s Candies, and at Thomas Family Farm during the Fall Harvest Festival.

One fateful day in 1990, Leroy Burton, the man who would become the love of her life, walked into the orthopedic office at Group Health to bring his son Kerwin in for knee surgery. Lightning struck and the pair began dating. In 2009, the lovebirds tied the knot. Their meeting brought a wonderful second family into Terry’s life, including many Burton family sisters, brothers, cousins, nieces, nephews, sons, grandchildren and friends, all of whom she considered her own.

Throughout her life, Terry was known for her compassionate and generous commitment to deeply caring for her many friends, co-workers and family members. She had a special passion for gift giving, which included many handmade and thoughtfully curated gifts for loved ones, often hand-picked months in advance. Terry was especially gifted at making others feel special, often going to great lengths to make even her newest acquaintances feel loved, seen and cared for. Above all, as she always said, Terry was a “mover and a shaker…Big time!”

Terry is survived by her husband Leroy Burton, her son Chad (Emme) Amble, grandchildren Taylor, Natalie, Luke and Sarabeth Amble, stepsons Kerwin Burton and Darian (Narissa) Burton, and grandchildren Alazair Torres, Azaida, Zaiden, Maxton and Janessa Burton, her sisters Kimberly Byrne and Denise “Teek “ (Charles) Criss, and many beloved extended family members and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Feed the Children, an organization that is committed to ending childhood hunger around the world by providing food, education, health care, clean water, and job training to children and families in need. Donations can be made at www.feedthechildren.com

A celebration of Terry’s wonderful life is planned for Spring of 2025. Details will be forthcoming.