DOVER - Anna Mae Teat Starkey died Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017, surrounded by her family.
Anna Mae was born Aug. 18, 1929 in Barclay, Md., the daughter of the late James Earle Teat, Sr., and Rhoada Pauline Ringgold Teat. She was a graduate of Sudlersville High School. Anna Mae was a member of St. Paul's Methodist Church and Wesley United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school. In her early years, she worked as a telephone operator at Diamond State Telephone and was a switch board operator at Playtex. As her children were growing, she was assistant manager in the Dover High School cafeteria and receptionist/secretary at Beltone Hearing Aid. After her children left home, she developed a knitting machine hobby and gave lessons at Delaware Sewing Center and was a member of the Lower Delaware Machine Knitting Club. She was very proud that one of her patterns was published in a national magazine. During the early years when her husband Jim, coached little league and her sons played, she was the recording secretary for the Dover Little League Ladies Auxiliary. She loved swimming, going to the beach, and playing league softball with the ladies. But by far her grandest accomplishments, joy, love and devotion was spending time with her family. To quote Anna Mae, "my husband, children and grandchildren are most precious to me." They meant the world to her and would champion their cause at a moment notice.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by two brothers, Edward Franklin Teat and James Earle Teat, Jr.; and sister, Julia Etta Teat.
She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 70 years, James (Jim) M. Starkey of Dover, who selflessly cared for her throughout her many long years of suffering. Their love for each other only continued to grow, providing a loving example for the family she held so dear to her heart.
Additionally she is survived by her three children, Ruby Lee Schaffer and her husband William (Bill) of Dover, Wayne Starkey and his wife Barbara of Milford, Gary Starkey and his wife Dottie of Dover; seven grandchildren, Marc Schaffer of Portland, Ore., Stacy Howard of Middletown, Samantha Melvin of Georgetown, Bobbi Turner of Lewes, Kathy Herd of Milford, Jonathan Starkey of Middletown, Jimmy Starkey of Baltimore; twelve great grandchildren; three nieces and five nephews.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017 at Wesley United Methodist Church, 209 S. State Street, Dover. Friends may call one hour prior. Interment will be in Sharon Hills Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, 209 S. State Street, Dover, DE 19901.
Letters of condolences may be sent and guestbook signed at www.torbertfuneral.com.