Thedamay Cleek

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Thedamay Cleek, 85, of Sikeston died Thursday, Jan. 10, 2002, at Sikeston Convalescent Center.

She was born Feb. 14, 1916, at Puxico, Mo., daughter of Eldon and Viola Kitchen. She and Lawrence C. Cleek were married Nov. 25, 1940, at Herculaneum, Mo. He died in April 1996.

Cleek was a control tower operator at Sikeston Airport for U.S. Army Air Corps cadets during World War II. She also worked many years for Drs. Bill Critchlow, A.D. Martin and Leo A. Bruce. She was a pilot, actress/director, artist and poet.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Kingshighway Daughters of the American Revolution, charter member of Sikeston Little Theatre, and board member of Division of Aging.

Survivors include a brother, Lovelace Kitchen of Cape Girardeau, and a sister, Eva Miller of Shreveport, La.

She was preceded in death by two brothers and a sister.

Friends may call at Ponder Funeral Home from 5-8 p.m. today.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with the Rev. William F. "Bill" Koch officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery.