Corlas Theodore āTedā Preston, 82, Bethany, MO passed away Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at a Bethany, MO hospital.
Ted was born on April 28, 1938 in Westboro, Missouri the son of Philip and Kathryn Preston. He was a member of the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church.
On October 5, 1958, Ted married Audra Maurine Shackelford in Meadville, Missouri. She preceded him in death.
Ted started working at the age of 12 years old for Harry Johns farming and through his life he farmed for Kruse Farms in Carrollton, MO, drove trucks for Limp Oil and David Klindt, worked for various telephone construction companies spending two years in Trinidad and Tobago, he owned his own service station, worked at other service stations, drove concrete truck, and retired from Unified Services.
Ted loved gardening. It was his way of relaxing. His garden received the ā24 Carrotā award that he was immensely proud of. You could ask most anyone that drove by his garden and they would attest that it never had a weed in it.
Ted also loved to hunt and fish and enjoyed cooking. Family dinners, fish fries, crab boils, tacos, and roastinā ears were always some of his favorite things and teaching all the grandkids how to peel crawfish. He might even challenge you to see who could eat the most.
Ted cherished spending time with his family. Whenever a grandchild or great-grandchild was around, they were always first and were never in trouble or wrong even when grandma said no. They were his world.
In addition to his wife, Audra Maurine, Ted is preceded in death by his son, Ellison Theodore; great-granddaughter, Abigail Parsons; parents, Philip and Kathryn and brothers, Bob and Larry Preston.
Ted is survived by his son, Rodney and Amy Preston, Bethany, MO; daughter, Teresa and Lynn Parsons, Hatfield, MO; daughter-in-law, Betty Preston, Bethany, MO; brothers, Ellis (Catherine) Preston, Lincoln, MO, Marvin (Maxine) Preston, Green Sea, SC, Fred (Bonnie) Preston, Princeton, MO; sister, Phyllis Riggs, Bethany, MO; sister-in-law, Ruth Combs, Princeton, MO; seven grandchildren, Jaime Parker, Liberty, MO, Jerad (Shannon) Preston, San Antonio, TX, Jillian Roach, Ashland, MO, Chris (Lynnette) Parsons, Memphis, MO, Audra (Clinton) McClain, Gilman City, MO, Tyler Preston, Chicago, IL, and Alisha Nunn, St. Joseph, MO; 16 great grandchildren, Paighton, Kaidie, Griffin, Lilly, Layla, Jack, Owen, Teddy, McKenzie, Clayton, Maverick, Waylen, Preston, Aubrey, Allison, and Emerson and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 14 at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, MO. Burial will follow in Lloyd Cemetery, Mt. Moriah, MO. The family will receive friends from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home where social distancing will be observed and masks are recommended. Memorials may be made to Lloyd Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com