Tess Woolsey Obituary

Tess Marie Woolsey was born in Salina, KS on March 29th, 1998 to her parents, Karen and Shawn Woolsey. She unexpectedly passed away on October 16, 2025 at Republic County Hospital.
Tess was an adorable fun loving child who loved to be goofy with a bright smile or funny face and was known for her very bright blonde hair and big blue eyes. She liked to be on the go and loved everything from swimming pool days, ballet class, girl's days out with her mom and grandma Jeannie as well as many of her friends. She was involved in FCA and youth group at Wesleyan Church and attending bible camp every year she could, playing softball, managing the wrestling team and the football team, NHS and acting in school plays to taking trips to Colorado with her family to see her Colorado family that she loved very much!
Tess took a six week European trip with People to People and she got to tour six countries. She got to do a home stay with a family for a weekend. She made a whole new group of friends on the trip that she was staying in touch with.
She adored her big sissy Rae and then transferred that adoration to her niece Elora and nephews Trenton and Brock. She lived for and found great joy to be there for all the things that they would experience in life from haircuts, birthday parties and holidays to football games and proms. She also loved, named and occasionally dressed her fur babies Toby George, Archie Blue and Aida Rose, and Tommie Sage after Aida's passing, all very spoiled. She loved binge worthy shows like Grey's Anatomy, The Office, The Big Bang Theory to The Ozzy Osborn reality shows and too many to mention. She took Trenton to his first concert, which was a 21 Pilots concert, her Dad and Mom to Kiss's last concert, Mom, Trenton and friends to MGK and her last concert was with her mom to see Jelly Roll, she loved her concerts, she even went with a group of high school friends to a concert in KC. Tess loved reading books of many genres but for sure all the Harry Potter series and S.E. Hutton ones. She was creative and artistic like her dad, loved to try new recipes and snacks from other countries, and pickles. She loved pickles.
For Father's Day, when Tess was a junior, she, Casey and Bailey took their dads to a KC Royals game. A trip that she knew would be a little struggle for her, but she pushed through for the memories!!
She had a special place in her parents' hearts from the day she was conceived. They were always there, for all the good days and bad days and in between days. Her mom was her rock, her health advocate and her best friend. Tess was kind and tender hearted and no matter what she was going through she stayed loyal to her character and remained in her faith that God can make good things come from the worst things. She just wanted everyone to be kind and show love to others or leave them alone. The only solace in losing someone so young and bright is that she is no longer suffering from pain and unknown answers.
Tess graduated from Republic County High School in 2016 and briefly attended college in Hutchinson, KS. She worked at Food Mart during high school then managed the Belleville After School Program as long as she was able. She always had the desire to work with and invest in children's lives. Her dream was to start a nonprofit organization for mental health, but her own health got in the way of that dream.
Tess and her mom made many doctor appointment trips which included going to Mayo Clinic, KU, Wichita, Hays, Lincoln, BMC, Republic County Hospital, Mankato and many to Salina. These were their girl trips that Tess always pushed through just to make the appointment and still have strength to go eat and maybe shop. Tess, Megan, Ellie and Karen took a girls trip to Salina in July to finally get butterfly tattoos for Raelene !! The girls got their butterflies and Karen got a semi colon for suicide awareness! They had lunch and the best day that Tess had in a while. So thankful for that day! Cousin Ken went and got his last week, adding the initials T and R, for the eyes for Tess and Rae!
Tess is survived by her parents, Karen (Cottenmyre) and Shawn Woolsey of Belleville, KS, nephews Trenton Zenger (Michaela Juneneman) of Manhattan, KS, and Brock Henderson, niece Elora Henderson both of Belleville, KS, and many cousins, aunts and uncles.
She is preceded in death by her sister Raelene Henderson, grandparents, Bob and Phillis Bottger (Beeson)(Cottenmyre), Bob Cottenmyre, Jean E Peters, Eugene (Pete) Peters, uncle Robert Cottenmyre and Aunt Yvonne Cottenmyre. And many more relatives.
Cremation was selected and Celebration of Life Services will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, November 8, 2025 at the Wesleyan Church, Belleville, KS with Pastor Mark McGregor, officiating.
Family inurnment will be held at a later date at the Belleville Cemetery, Belleville, KS.
The family will greet friends from 5 PM until 7 PM, Friday, November 7, 2025 at the Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established at the Citizens National Bank, Belleville with the memorial to be decided later.
Online condolences at www.bachelor-surber.com
Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, 1322 19th ST, Belleville, KS is assisting the family with the arrangements.
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