Albert Theodore “Teed” Sykes of Kirksville, MO, passed away Tuesday at the Knox County Nursing Home at the age of 99.
Teed was born June 19, 1914 near Kenwood, Missouri the son of Lee and Anne (Shepard) Sykes. On April 4, 1935 in Macon, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Ruby Myrtle Kelley. They enjoyed 71 years of happy marriage before Ruby’s death May 31, 2007.
After their marriage, they lived near Hurdland, Missouri where he was employed with Knox County. In 1941 he began working for the Missouri Power and Light Company in Kirksville, Missouri where they then made their home. He began his tenure with Missouri Power & Light as an ice puller in the ice plant and after several advancements, was operator of the switchboard which monitored all of the electrical circuits in Northeast Missouri and retired as store keeper for Union Electric. He retired from Union Electric in 1977.
He is survived by his daughter, Jacquelyn (Jackie) Eaton and husband, Zelwin (Zel), Nieces, Ann McCarty and husband, Gene of Hurdland, MO, Paula Peery and husband, Willis of Moberly, MO, Jan Thomas and husband, Don of Bolivar, MO, Anita Dixson and husband, Steve of Hurdland, MO, Marla Holt and husband, Gary of Montana, Nephews, Larry Sykes and wife, Kay of Hurdland, MO, Dennis Sykes and wife, Linda of Columbia, MO, Marty Sykes and wife, Brenda of Sabetha, Kansas, Tim Sykes and wife, Debbie of Dallas, TX, Rex Sykes and wife, Keitha of Hurdland, MO, sisters-in-law, Minnie Sykes of Kirksville, MO, Eveline Sykes of Edina, MO and Anna Lea Sykes of Hurdland, MO, good family friend and fellow Cardinal fan, Tammy Dodsworth of Kirksville, MO, cousins and numerous friends.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Ruby, parents, his brothers, Clarence, Carlile, Chester, Woodrow and Norman (in infancy) Sykes: Sisters, Marylile Paul and Geneva Sykes in childhood. Also a niece Carolyn Pieske and nephew, Mike Sykes preceded him in death.
“Teed” was a long-time member of the First Christian Church in Kirksville, Missouri where he served on the Board for many years and as Chairman of the Building Committee for several of those years and was a long-time member of the Men’s Sunday School Class. He also served as deacon for many years. He and Ruby were pastor assistants for baptism many years. He was an avid hunter and kept a hunting dog during his years of hunting. He also enjoyed fishing. He enjoyed card playing and he and Ruby worked together as members of RSVP delivering library books and meals, as well as other volunteer projects. He attended the Senior Fellowship group of the First Christian Church and Life After 50. His greatest love was to be with family and friends and he always visited family and friends in times of illness. He traveled with his family to nearly every state and loved to relive stories of those travels. He was a loyal St. Louis Cardinal fan and also, the Mizzou basketball team.
He was a beloved husband, father, uncle and friend. He will be sadly missed.
Funeral Services will be Saturday, December 28, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. at the Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, Missouri.
Visitation will be after 12:00 noon Saturday with the family greeting friends until service time at the funeral home.
Burial will be in the Park View Memorial Gardens in Kirksville, Missouri.
Brother Robert Shobe and Pastor Dewayne Wellborn will officiate and music will be provided by Diantha Cable and Lanna Novinger. Casket Bearers will be his nieces and nephews.
An expression of sympathy in memory of Teed Sykes may be left to the NEMO Senior Citizens or the Adair County Humane Society. A memorial may be left at or mailed to the Travis-Noe Funeral Home, 1008 W. Potter Avenue, Kirksville, Missouri 63501.