Bobby Gray Gillikin

Bobby Gray Gillikin, 81, of Otway obtained his Heavenly wings on June 17, 2017 at Pruitt Health Care Center surrounded by family and his extended Pruitt family.

Funeral service will be held Thursday, July 20, 2017 at 2 p.m. at Smyrna Pentecostal Church, officiated by Reverend William O’Neal. Burial will follow at the Cleveland Gillikin Cemetery in Otway.

From a young age, Mr. Gillikin enjoyed outdoor life. He would often reminisce of crabbing, dove hunting and oystering as a young boy for his mother to prepare for supper while his father was away from home for work. As a young man, he worked construction to assist with building of the Sea Level Hospital and dredging for construction of Atlantic beach. He later attended Atlantic Christian College, previous Barton College, and would often tell of being so homesick for “mama’s table” and a pot of hard crabs.

Mr. Gillikin found his passion and love of computers at Cherry Point Data Processing. He loved his many coworkers and life long friends, often telling his stories of eating at Bojangles at 2:00am. Mr. Gillikin was active with boy scouts and outdoor guides mostly until having a daughter of his own when attention turned  to softball, 4-H camps, dolls and hairbows. Mr. Gillikin biggest job became “Daddy.”

After retirement of 35 years, Mr. Gillikin was again turned attention to the Otway Fire Department, one of his first loves. Mr Gillikin was one of the original founding charter members and that carried a desire for hard work, pig pickings and love to the Otway district. Mr. Gillikin also continued his love for gardening, picking blueberries and growing tomatoes while all along teaching his daughter to importance of preparation and giving to others. Formally known as “tater man”, he would grow multiples gardens of collards and sweet potatoes and deliver them to community friends and family at Thanksgiving with only a smile as a payment.

Mr. Gillikin’s biggest job come in later years in the form of “DeDe” to a strong-willed playful blue-eyed prayed for little girl. He became her first best friend who saw joy in pillow fights, drawing houses and coloring princess castles.

Growing slower over the last several years, Mr Gillikin spent his time unknowing teaching others and his family life is short, take time for family, remember the good times and always thank God for your blessings. Mr. Gillikin was proud to have served Otway Christian Church and later Smyrna Penecoastal Holliness Church while all along giving thanks and praise to our Lord through giving, hardwork and the love of our savior in his heart.

The family of Mr. Gillikin would like to personally thank Dr. Jaworski of Carteret Health Care for his guidance and compassion, Dr. Willis and Jack Orton PA for their patience and understanding, Paula Day (Personal Care Provider while still at home) and finally his new family at Pruitt Health Care of Sea Level ( AKA ice cream club) who have loved him since the day one.

Mr. Gillikin is survived by his wife, Sandra of the home; daughter Bobbie Lynn Gillikin and son-in-law Lester Allen Salter; granddaughter, Victoria Rose Salter of Davis; sister, Matilda Davis; brother, Berkley Ray Gillikin all of Otway; multiple nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Alvie and Lida Gillikin; sister in law, Mary Eliza Gillikin; brother in law, Johnnie B. Davis.

Family will see friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, 2017 at the Smyrna Pentecostal Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Otway Fire and Rescue Squad, 509 US 70, Beaufort, NC 28516, for the Bobbie Gillikin scholarship fund.

Online condolences may be made at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements are by Munden Funeral Home and Crematory, Morehead City, NC.