Anthus O. "Jean" Gilkey, 78, of Parsons, entered rest at 2:27 p.m., Saturday, April 2, 2016 at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Missouri.
She was born July 23, 1937 in Rentiesville, Oklahoma to Laurena Darkis. As a young girl, she grew up in Rentiesville where she attended school and continued to live there until moving to Parsons in 1956.
Through the years, Jean worked as a cook at the SEK-CAP Head Start Program, Adventure Line Manufacturing Company, and as food service supervisor at the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center until retiring after 30 years of service.
She was a beloved member of the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Parsons for over 65 years. She especially enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include:
One Son – Max Gilkey and his wife, Mary Leavenworth, KS
Four Daughters – Virginia Money Parsons, KS
Florentine Gilkey K.C., MO
Patricia Gilkey and companion, Leon Shaw Parsons, KS
Ceresta Hill and husband, Tony Oklahoma City, OK
Thirteen Grandchildren – Sean Dawson, Shamika Gilkey, London Dawson, Christina Hale, Jamie Gilkey, Joy Money, Matthew Gilkey, Rejeanne Alomenu, Natasha Gilkey, Sidney Bryant, Destiny Gilkey, Ashley Hill and Maurice Hill
Twelve Great-Grandchildren and one "on the way"
Two Sisters – Norma Charlene Ross Smyrna, GA
Sherry Hardridge Parsons, KS
Two Brothers – Jimmie Darkis and wife, Linda Parsons, KS
Gary Darkis and wife, Gloria Wichita, KS
One Uncle – Charles D. Davis, Sr. Denver, CO
A special nephew she helped raise – Kenneth Gilyard Checotah, OK
A close friend who was like a brother – Alfonso Cooper and his wife, Ruth, of Oklahoma City, OK
Numerous Nieces, Nephews, Cousins and Friends
She was preceded in death by her mother, Laurena Darkis; two daughters, B.J. Gilkey-Smith and Lorine Dawson-Eason; and three brothers, Johnnie Johnson, Adam Darkis, and Robert Henderson, Jr.
Funeral services will be held at 4:30 p.m., Saturday, April 9, 2016 at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 p.m., Friday, at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Anthus O. "Jean" Gilkey, please visit our flower store.
She was born July 23, 1937 in Rentiesville, Oklahoma to Laurena Darkis. As a young girl, she grew up in Rentiesville where she attended school and continued to live there until moving to Parsons in 1956.
Through the years, Jean worked as a cook at the SEK-CAP Head Start Program, Adventure Line Manufacturing Company, and as food service supervisor at the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center until retiring after 30 years of service.
She was a beloved member of the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Parsons for over 65 years. She especially enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include:
One Son – Max Gilkey and his wife, Mary Leavenworth, KS
Four Daughters – Virginia Money Parsons, KS
Florentine Gilkey K.C., MO
Patricia Gilkey and companion, Leon Shaw Parsons, KS
Ceresta Hill and husband, Tony Oklahoma City, OK
Thirteen Grandchildren – Sean Dawson, Shamika Gilkey, London Dawson, Christina Hale, Jamie Gilkey, Joy Money, Matthew Gilkey, Rejeanne Alomenu, Natasha Gilkey, Sidney Bryant, Destiny Gilkey, Ashley Hill and Maurice Hill
Twelve Great-Grandchildren and one "on the way"
Two Sisters – Norma Charlene Ross Smyrna, GA
Sherry Hardridge Parsons, KS
Two Brothers – Jimmie Darkis and wife, Linda Parsons, KS
Gary Darkis and wife, Gloria Wichita, KS
One Uncle – Charles D. Davis, Sr. Denver, CO
A special nephew she helped raise – Kenneth Gilyard Checotah, OK
A close friend who was like a brother – Alfonso Cooper and his wife, Ruth, of Oklahoma City, OK
Numerous Nieces, Nephews, Cousins and Friends
She was preceded in death by her mother, Laurena Darkis; two daughters, B.J. Gilkey-Smith and Lorine Dawson-Eason; and three brothers, Johnnie Johnson, Adam Darkis, and Robert Henderson, Jr.
Funeral services will be held at 4:30 p.m., Saturday, April 9, 2016 at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 p.m., Friday, at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Anthus O. "Jean" Gilkey, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Parsons: Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home
Funeral Service
Parsons: Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home
Videos
Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors