The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Patricia ‘Teeka' Clarke
On Wednesday, July 3, this great woman of poise and class passed away at the age of 91.
She was being cared for by her two daughters and son after she took a fall in December that she never recovered from. She was watched over by her beloved dogs Loki, Sonny and Charlie.
Though our hearts are breaking, we take solace in knowing she is now at peace and without pain.
Teeka started her life in Newton, Kan., on March 19, 1922, and later moved to Wichita, Kan. As her father John M. Houston moved up in politics (from mayor to congressman), she moved back and forth between Kansas and Washington, D. C.
She would later meet midshipman John Earl Shedaker Jr. at Annapolis, and they were married Dec. 24, 1941.
They had three children before his untimely death at age 30 in October 1948.
Teeka played the role of both mother and father to her children for the next 65 years, which continued through her 20-year marriage to Ken Clarke, a professional pianist who had been the musical director for the Steve Allen Tonight Show in the early 1950s.
After Ken's death, Teeka moved to Soulsbyville, Calif., where she resided for nearly 30 years until she moved to Morristown, Ariz., in 2004.
Teeka is preceded in death by her mother and stepfather Charlotte and Lee Headley, her father John Mills Houston, her husband Major John Earl Shedaker Jr., her second husband Kenneth Clarke, and her beloved nephew Christopher Houston.
She is survived by her brother Robert A. Houston; her children Carol A. McGuffey, John R. Shedaker (Dr. Susanne West), Charlotte R. Ballas (Nick), and Timothy Francis (Lydia); her grandchildren Rebecca A. Keller (Mitch), Sean M. Pelfrey (Tammy), Terry H. McGuffey, Teeka A. Ballas, Donovan K.L. Ballas, Erin Braunz (Peter), John A. Shedaker - "JAS," Caitlin, Monty, and Thyme, Lani and Ledora Francis; her great-grandchildren Christina Hubbard (Seth), Samantha Keller, Penny Braunz, and Dylan, Alec, Jack, Owen and Brody McGuffey, Colton Pelfrey, and Mekaila, Judasia, and Denton Ballas; and her much-loved niece Candi Houston, nephew Mark Houston, and great-nephew Tommy Houston.
An artist, pianist, avid reader and lover of nature, Teeka instilled a passionate appreciation for the arts in her children and grandchildren.
She seldom repeated herself, but her words had a resounding effect: "You can sleep when you're dead" and "If you're bored, it's because you're boring."
Until we are called home, we will miss her greatly. She was our rock. We love you Mama.
Services and burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday (July 16) at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego.
Friends may offer online condolences at www.wickenburgfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Wickenburg Funeral Home and Crematory.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Patricia ‘Teeka' Clarke
On Wednesday, July 3, this great woman of poise and class passed away at the age of 91.
She was being cared for by her two daughters and son after she took a fall in December that she never recovered from. She was watched over by her beloved dogs Loki, Sonny and Charlie.
Though our hearts are breaking, we take solace in knowing she is now at peace and without pain.
Teeka started her life in Newton, Kan., on March 19, 1922, and later moved to Wichita, Kan. As her father John M. Houston moved up in politics (from mayor to congressman), she moved back and forth between Kansas and Washington, D. C.
She would later meet midshipman John Earl Shedaker Jr. at Annapolis, and they were married Dec. 24, 1941.
They had three children before his untimely death at age 30 in October 1948.
Teeka played the role of both mother and father to her children for the next 65 years, which continued through her 20-year marriage to Ken Clarke, a professional pianist who had been the musical director for the Steve Allen Tonight Show in the early 1950s.
After Ken's death, Teeka moved to Soulsbyville, Calif., where she resided for nearly 30 years until she moved to Morristown, Ariz., in 2004.
Teeka is preceded in death by her mother and stepfather Charlotte and Lee Headley, her father John Mills Houston, her husband Major John Earl Shedaker Jr., her second husband Kenneth Clarke, and her beloved nephew Christopher Houston.
She is survived by her brother Robert A. Houston; her children Carol A. McGuffey, John R. Shedaker (Dr. Susanne West), Charlotte R. Ballas (Nick), and Timothy Francis (Lydia); her grandchildren Rebecca A. Keller (Mitch), Sean M. Pelfrey (Tammy), Terry H. McGuffey, Teeka A. Ballas, Donovan K.L. Ballas, Erin Braunz (Peter), John A. Shedaker - "JAS," Caitlin, Monty, and Thyme, Lani and Ledora Francis; her great-grandchildren Christina Hubbard (Seth), Samantha Keller, Penny Braunz, and Dylan, Alec, Jack, Owen and Brody McGuffey, Colton Pelfrey, and Mekaila, Judasia, and Denton Ballas; and her much-loved niece Candi Houston, nephew Mark Houston, and great-nephew Tommy Houston.
An artist, pianist, avid reader and lover of nature, Teeka instilled a passionate appreciation for the arts in her children and grandchildren.
She seldom repeated herself, but her words had a resounding effect: "You can sleep when you're dead" and "If you're bored, it's because you're boring."
Until we are called home, we will miss her greatly. She was our rock. We love you Mama.
Services and burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday (July 16) at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego.
Friends may offer online condolences at www.wickenburgfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Wickenburg Funeral Home and Crematory.
The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Patricia ‘Teeka' Clarke
On Wednesday, July 3, this great woman of poise and class passed away at the age of 91.
She was being cared for by her two daughters and son after she took a fall in December that she never recovered from. She was watched over by her beloved dogs Loki, Sonny and Charlie.
Though our hearts are breaking, we take solace in knowing she is now at peace and without pain.
Teeka started her life in Newton, Kan., on March 19, 1922, and later moved to Wichita, Kan. As her father John M. Houston moved up in politics (from mayor to congressman), she moved back and forth between Kansas and Washington, D. C.
She would later meet midshipman John Earl Shedaker Jr. at Annapolis, and they were married Dec. 24, 1941.
They had three children before his untimely death at age 30 in October 1948.
Teeka played the role of both mother and father to her children for the next 65 years, which continued through her 20-year marriage to Ken Clarke, a professional pianist who had been the musical director for the Steve Allen Tonight Show in the early 1950s.
After Ken's death, Teeka moved to Soulsbyville, Calif., where she resided for nearly 30 years until she moved to Morristown, Ariz., in 2004.
Teeka is preceded in death by her mother and stepfather Charlotte and Lee Headley, her father John Mills Houston, her husband Major John Earl Shedaker Jr., her second husband Kenneth Clarke, and her beloved nephew Christopher Houston.
She is survived by her brother Robert A. Houston; her children Carol A. McGuffey, John R. Shedaker (Dr. Susanne West), Charlotte R. Ballas (Nick), and Timothy Francis (Lydia); her grandchildren Rebecca A. Keller (Mitch), Sean M. Pelfrey (Tammy), Terry H. McGuffey, Teeka A. Ballas, Donovan K.L. Ballas, Erin Braunz (Peter), John A. Shedaker - "JAS," Caitlin, Monty, and Thyme, Lani and Ledora Francis; her great-grandchildren Christina Hubbard (Seth), Samantha Keller, Penny Braunz, and Dylan, Alec, Jack, Owen and Brody McGuffey, Colton Pelfrey, and Mekaila, Judasia, and Denton Ballas; and her much-loved niece Candi Houston, nephew Mark Houston, and great-nephew Tommy Houston.
An artist, pianist, avid reader and lover of nature, Teeka instilled a passionate appreciation for the arts in her children and grandchildren.
She seldom repeated herself, but her words had a resounding effect: "You can sleep when you're dead" and "If you're bored, it's because you're boring."
Until we are called home, we will miss her greatly. She was our rock. We love you Mama.
Services and burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday (July 16) at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego.
Friends may offer online condolences at www.wickenburgfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Wickenburg Funeral Home and Crematory.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Patricia ‘Teeka' Clarke
On Wednesday, July 3, this great woman of poise and class passed away at the age of 91.
She was being cared for by her two daughters and son after she took a fall in December that she never recovered from. She was watched over by her beloved dogs Loki, Sonny and Charlie.
Though our hearts are breaking, we take solace in knowing she is now at peace and without pain.
Teeka started her life in Newton, Kan., on March 19, 1922, and later moved to Wichita, Kan. As her father John M. Houston moved up in politics (from mayor to congressman), she moved back and forth between Kansas and Washington, D. C.
She would later meet midshipman John Earl Shedaker Jr. at Annapolis, and they were married Dec. 24, 1941.
They had three children before his untimely death at age 30 in October 1948.
Teeka played the role of both mother and father to her children for the next 65 years, which continued through her 20-year marriage to Ken Clarke, a professional pianist who had been the musical director for the Steve Allen Tonight Show in the early 1950s.
After Ken's death, Teeka moved to Soulsbyville, Calif., where she resided for nearly 30 years until she moved to Morristown, Ariz., in 2004.
Teeka is preceded in death by her mother and stepfather Charlotte and Lee Headley, her father John Mills Houston, her husband Major John Earl Shedaker Jr., her second husband Kenneth Clarke, and her beloved nephew Christopher Houston.
She is survived by her brother Robert A. Houston; her children Carol A. McGuffey, John R. Shedaker (Dr. Susanne West), Charlotte R. Ballas (Nick), and Timothy Francis (Lydia); her grandchildren Rebecca A. Keller (Mitch), Sean M. Pelfrey (Tammy), Terry H. McGuffey, Teeka A. Ballas, Donovan K.L. Ballas, Erin Braunz (Peter), John A. Shedaker - "JAS," Caitlin, Monty, and Thyme, Lani and Ledora Francis; her great-grandchildren Christina Hubbard (Seth), Samantha Keller, Penny Braunz, and Dylan, Alec, Jack, Owen and Brody McGuffey, Colton Pelfrey, and Mekaila, Judasia, and Denton Ballas; and her much-loved niece Candi Houston, nephew Mark Houston, and great-nephew Tommy Houston.
An artist, pianist, avid reader and lover of nature, Teeka instilled a passionate appreciation for the arts in her children and grandchildren.
She seldom repeated herself, but her words had a resounding effect: "You can sleep when you're dead" and "If you're bored, it's because you're boring."
Until we are called home, we will miss her greatly. She was our rock. We love you Mama.
Services and burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday (July 16) at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego.
Friends may offer online condolences at www.wickenburgfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Wickenburg Funeral Home and Crematory.
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