Oct 9, 1967 — Sep 8, 2026
The services celebrating and honoring the life of Theresa Avery, 58, of Hunter, Oklahoma, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 19, 2026, in the Brown-Cummings Funeral Home Chapel, Enid, Oklahoma. Burial will follow in the Hunter Cemetery. A visitation will be held 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. Friday September 18, 2026 in the Brown-Cummings Funeral Home. Services are under the direction of Brown-Cummings, A life celebration home.
Theresa was born October 9, 1967, in McHenry, Illinois, to Marsha Hoots and Ace Cranson. Her mother later married John Pemberton, who became Theresa’s father and helped raise her. Theresa was the oldest of three children and grew up alongside her siblings, Tabatha and Henry, sharing plenty of childhood adventures—and undoubtedly a little mischief—along the way. Theresa was raised in Illinois before her family eventually made their way to Oklahoma. During her high school years in Red Rock, she earned the nickname “Steam Roller” on the basketball court—a name that, in many ways, suited the determination and strength she carried throughout her life.
Theresa married Tim Wine in 1985, and during their marriage welcomed her daughter, Brandy.
Theresa later built a life with Howard Kitchen. She loved his daughters, Katherine and Elizabeth, as her own. Together, Theresa and Howard welcomed their son, Kyle, and were married on December 30, 1994.
Anyone who truly knew Theresa knew that she was never afraid of hard work. She didn’t simply tell her children what it meant to work hard—she showed them. Theresa and Howard ran a mowing business together, and through long days spent working alongside their children, she taught them the pride that comes from looking back at a job well done. She put her whole self into whatever was in front of her, and that same determination and work ethic became one of the greatest things she passed on to her children.
For several years, Theresa worked at the Wheatheart Nutrition Center in Billings, Oklahoma, serving elderly members of Billings and the surrounding communities. In addition to her work at the nutrition center, Theresa began managing apartments in Billings in 2000. True to her nature, she was never afraid to do the work herself—painting, replacing carpet, cleaning, handling maintenance, and doing whatever needed to be done. Her hard work earned her Apartment Manager of the Year honors multiple times.
In 2008, Theresa began her career at Vance Air Force Base. She initially worked in housekeeping before eventually becoming a T-1 aircraft mechanic. Her path at Vance was another reflection of the woman she had always been: capable, determined, willing to learn, and never afraid to work hard or get her hands dirty.
But Theresa’s life was so much more than the jobs she held.
She was a wife, mother, Nana, sister, friend, and caregiver, and a woman with a personality that could never be adequately captured by a list of dates and accomplishments. She loved deeply, laughed loudly, worked hard, and lived with an adventurous spirit.
Her Christian faith was an important part of her life. Theresa loved Christ and enjoyed worshipping through music, especially her favorite song, “That’s My King.” Her faith provided strength and hope throughout her life and during difficult times. In 2017, Theresa’s stepdaughter Elizabeth had the privilege of baptizing her, surrounded by family and those who loved her—a moment that remained deeply meaningful to them both.
Theresa married Merle “Alan” Avery on June 13, 2024, and had a wedding ceremony on September 15, 2024, in Perry, Oklahoma. Together, they enjoyed traveling, playing pool, worshipping, and building a life filled with companionship and adventure. Theresa was a state qualifier in both individual and team pool competition. She was always willing to try something new, whether it was underground kayaking or zip lining, and she treasured the memories made along the way. She was a devoted wife and a source of strength, especially during Alan’s illness, when she cared for him with unwavering love and dedication.
Of all the roles Theresa held, however, some of the most important were simply Wife, Mom, and Nana.
She is survived by her husband, Merle “Alan” Avery; her daughter, Brandy Harris, and grandchildren Trinity, Bailey, Alisha, Natasha, Kennedy, and Wren; her son, Kyle Kitchen and wife Shelby, and granddaughters Sawyer and Wrenley; her stepdaughter Elizabeth Mozingo and husband John, and granddaughter Alexandra; her stepdaughter Katherine Beckton and grandsons Adrian “Taylor” Beckton and Andrew Beckton; her sister, Tabatha Lowery; her aunt, Donna; her nephews, Andrew, Brady, and Christian; her nieces, Julia and Amber; along with other family members and friends who loved her and will continue to carry her memory.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Marsha; her husband, Howard Kitchen; her brother, Henry Keith Grant; and her grandparents, Faye and Donald Deis and Audrey and Loren Hoots.
Theresa’s children will carry forward more than memories of their mother. They carry the things she taught them without always needing to say them: work hard. Take pride in what you do. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. Take care of people. Try the adventure. Laugh. Keep going.
Theresa put her all into the life she lived and the people she loved. The evidence of that life remains in her children, her grandchildren, the people she served, the work of her hands, and the countless stories that will continue to be told about her.
She worked hard. She loved hard. She lived fully.
And she will be deeply missed.
The family wishes to express its sincere appreciation to the staff of Brown-Cummings Funeral Home for their care and support during this difficult time.
