Terressa Anthonette was born in Dickinson, Texas on April 19, 1924 and raised in the family home in the center of town. She described her childhood as perfect with loving, kind parents Anthony John and Terressa May Dues. One older sister Mary K., no longer living.
As a young girl Sundays were spent swimming in the bayou with her cousins at “The camp” family property on Highway 646. After church the large extended family would meet for horseshoes and cook outs. I was told by a childhood friend that she was a leader in her neighborhood as a young girl, organizing her friends for activities and plays. She was a strong swimmer and saved her friend’s life in the bayou one day. Tennis was her game and percussion was her instrument at Dickinson high school graduating in 1941. In her 50s She could still whoop me in a game.
She attended Texas State College for Women in Denton, Texas at age 17 until World War II broke out; she then went home to work in the effort at Camp Wallis, Hitchcock, Texas. There she met Wade Sundstrom from Friday Harbor, Washington stationed there for training. They married in 1945 and had one child in Texas before moving to Friday Harbor to purchase the Sundstrom family farm after the war. Known as Anthonette, Tonie, or sometimes Tex Ritter to their friends, and Aunt Tonie to her many nieces and nephews; She LOVED the extended Sundstrom family and enjoyed hosting many holidays and parties. She worked hard on the farm but told her husband first thing, she would do anything except milk cows. She was a dedicated catholic being involved and raising her family in the St. Francis Catholic Church, and worked outside the home off and on to help support the family.
In 1981, she was lucky enough to meet and marry her second husband C.B. Smith, Jr. while working at a local bank. They had a wonderful loving relationship and enjoyed their later years together playing golf, entertaining friends, and traveling until his death in September 1998. Her passion was in the kitchen cooking and entertaining friends and family concocting every imaginable dish. Also an avid gardener, she took great pride in her yard with such a variety of shrubs and flowering plants, and the largest fig tree you ever saw guaranteed fig preserves every year. Her home was warm and friendly, always open to everyone.
She raised four children; Mary Wade, Lowell Wade Jr., Terressa Sundstrom and Betsy Dues. She would say that she handpicked her two son-in-laws, Jimmy Wade and Eddie Dues.
Grandchildren include: Michelle Lombardo, Shane Purgason, and William Wade. Heidi Brown (husband Lucas), Anthony Dues, (wife Kelsey), and Robert Dues.
Great grandchildren Andrea, Alex, and Mauricio, Jr. Lombardo. Liam and Josie Brown. Wyatt and Harper Dues.
We also acknowledge C. B.’s oldest son, Jim Smith, for his caring and thoughtful presence in her life and ours.
Tonie moved to Texas to be near family in 2009 for the remainder of her life and passed away in Cedar Park, Texas on Aug. 22, 2017, at age 93.
Because of her there was kindness, patience and compassion and strength in adversity there was caring for less fortunate because there was no judgment. The gift of hospitality with love of entertaining and opening her home. Cooking skill and how to preserve and make a meal from anything grown on the farm, how to sew. There was singing and music and devotion to God and St. Francis church. Love of plants, gardens and outdoors, mothering, sympathy, understanding and love. She left her imprint in our world.
A celebration of her life is planned for April 19, 2018 in Friday Harbor, Washington. There should be song, dance, food, and flowers in her honor.
