Patricia Clarke

Patricia "Teeka" Shedaker Clarke On Wednesday, July 3, 2013, a very classy lady went home. She was being cared 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, KS on March 19, 1922, and later moved to Wichita, KS. 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 thru 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 50's. After Ken's death, Teeka moved to Soulsbyville, CA where she resided for nearly 30 years until she moved to Morristown, AZ 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 2nd 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 LaDora 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, like: "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.