Theresa Mortland Obituary

Theresa Elaine "Terri" (Boes) Mortland

Theresa Elaine "Terri" (Boes) Mortland, 79, passed away Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at her home in Grafton.

She was born Feb. 2, 1944, two months premature, in Findlay, the first of 11 children born to Cecil and Virginia Hoile Boes. From an early age, she was her father's farmhand on the family farm in Arcadia. She graduated valedictorian from St. Michael School, Findlay, in 1959, and from St. Mary's Academy, Monroe, Michigan, in 1962. Theresa earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mount St. Joseph College, Cincinnati, in 1966.

Theresa married Captain David Calhoun, a military officer, in 1966. Their first son, Kevin, was born while he was serving an unaccompanied tour. On David's discharge from Valley Forge military hospital, the family moved to Europe in 1969. Their second son, Mark, was born in West Germany where they resided and traveled through several countries. The couple divorced in 1975.

After her divorce, Theresa married Earl Mortland. They were married 31 years until his passing in 2008. Theresa designed the Bavarian style house in Grafton that she and Earl built during the Blizzard of 1978.

Theresa worked in hospitals, retirement homes, and a physician's office before she bought JMJ (Jesus Mary Joseph) Ceramics Shop in Kipton. During her over 40 years of ownership, she used her artistic talents to teach students the finer skills of the ceramics business. If a customer had a problem with painting a piece, she showed them how to complete the task, not doing the task for them. Her specialty was painting the eyes on pieces. Each year at Lorain County Fair, she received many blue ribbons for her ceramic pieces.

Besides being a registered nurse and a business woman, she stayed true to her farming roots. She learned from her parents by planting irises and daylilies with her husband, Earl, along with a large one acre garden for their family. With the help from family and friends, her beloved 1950 International Super A tractor was recently restored where she drove it over the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan for the Antique Tractor Crossing. In addition to canning the garden produce, she made wedding cakes, decorative cakes, and other baked goods for families and friends. Every year, she provided a ceramic piece for LCBA (Loyal Christian Benefit Association) Christmas dinner raffle, being a life-long member of the organization.

Theresa's surviving family members are Kevin (Andrea) Calhoun and Mark (Lisa) Calhoun; granddaughter, Sara Calhoun; grandson, Mark (Laura) Calhoun II; great-grandchildren; stepchildren, David (Tammy) Mortland, Glenn Mortland, and Kathy (Tom) Pollock; stepgrandchildren; stepgreat-grandchildren; and siblings, Jane Boes, Philip Boes, Cecil (Linda) Boes Jr., Anne (Robert) Sweigart, Virginia (Russell) Hauenstein, John (Amy) Boes, Miriam Khamis, Angela (Mark) Luhman, and Joseph (Kathy) Boes. Many nieces and nephews will miss her smile and guiding principles in life.

Theresa was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Earl; stepson, Douglas Mortland; great-grandson, Charles Calhoun; and brother, Francis Boes.

Her ceramics customers were her family also. She shared life skills and ceramic skills with them.

Visitation for family and friends will be 4 p.m. Thursday, March 30, 2023, at Duke Funeral Home, 1021 Main St., Grafton. Prayer services will be 6:45 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home with Father John Seabold, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, officiating. Burial will be at a later date at Butternut Ridge Cemetery, Eaton Twp.

Online condolences may be left at www.dukefuneralhome.com.