On November 11, 2013, Teddie Grace Gilkey (Pierce), wife and mother was carried off into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Teddie was born in, Colbert, Oklahoma, on September 10, 1946, to Thaddeus and Elizabeth Pierce. She was raised in Colbert, OK where she attended the community's all black Shoemaker school. After giving birth to three beautiful children; Alan, Fritz and Edna, she moved to Phoenix, AZ where she met and fell in love with her husband Herman "Gene" Gilkey. They moved to Arvin, CA, raised their children and made a life for themselves. Teddie was baptized in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in 1975 and was a committed, serving member at the Arvin location ever since. She worked as a Medical Assistant for Dr. Hollingseed and other local doctors. She excelled in the medical field for many years, all while being a supportive wife and mother. She and Gene then decided she would retire from work outside the home and enjoy being with her family full time, which included Alpha & Omega, her spunky, beloved dogs. Teddie found fun in collecting "Betty Boop" memorabilia. She was often lovingly referred to as "Ms. Betty Boop." Teddie was preceded in death by her husband Gene; son Fritz; sister Edna, mother Elizabeth, father Thaddeus, sister Mildred and brothers, Raymond and Pete. Teddie leaves to cherish many loving memories; her dear children, Alan Glenn Roberts, Newport News, VA and Edna Toshiko Roberts, Bakersfield, CA; sisters Mary Wright, Colbert, OK, Bernice Bibbs, Houston, TX and Clarice Johnson, Denison, TX; brothers, Otis Belt, Hephzibah, GA and Doyle Belt, Phoenix, AZ; special, dear friend, Charlotte Stinnett, Arvin, CA; 3 great grandchildren, 3 grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, in-laws and dear friends. As greatly as Teddie will be missed…this is not good-bye, it's merely as she would say, "Just a short Boop-boop-de-doop-oop!'