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Submitted by: Ann Weber
Richard “Pokey” Gilbert, 84, of Tecumseh, Oklahoma passed away Wednesday, March 20, 2019 in Shawnee.
He was born August 1, 1934 to Sam and Beatrice (Yonts) Gilbert in Booneville, Arkansas.
Pokey was raised in Booneville, Arkansas and was a 1953 graduate of Booneville High School.
He married Ann W. “Sis” Whitaker on July 8, 1956 in Booneville, Arkansas and they began their family in Booneville. They later moved to Tecumseh in 1971 and has since lived here. Ann preceded him in death on June 14, 1996.
Pokey started his trucking career at the age of 14. He worked for various individuals before beginning to drive a truck for Lee Way Motor Freight in Oklahoma City in 1967. In 1971 he along with his wife, Ann started from a single truck operation and built Gilbert & Sons Trucking. The company now operates in 48 states and 5 Canadian Provinces with more than 180 pieces of equipment.
He has been a member of Tecumseh First Baptist Church since 1971.
Pokey loved going to truck and equipment auctions. His experience and knowledge in the trucking industry is well respected throughout the country. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, friend and mentor. He will be dearly missed by all those who knew and loved him.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann “Sis” Gilbert; parents, Sam and Beatrice Gilbert; 2 brothers, Danny Wayne Gilbert and Jimmy Gilbert; and nephew, David Finnie.
Those left to cherish his memory are 3 sons 1 daughter-in-law and 1 Fiancé, Rick Gilbert of Tecumseh, Randy and Suzanne Gilbert of Tecumseh and Ron Gilbert and Jackie Schmidlkofer of Shawnee, OK; 4 grandchildren, Josh and Robin Gilbert, Jeff Gilbert, Shanie and Zack McLemore and Annie Jo Gilbert; 2 sisters and 1 brother-in-law, Mary Finnie of Ft. Smith, AR and Nancy and Jerry Davis of Branson, MO; 1 brother and 4 sisters-in-law, Sammy and Mary Ann Gilbert of Magazine, AR, Nancy Gilbert of Harrison, AR, Kathy Gilbert of Magazine, AR and Ann Whitaker of Booneville, AR; and many loving friends and extended family.
The family has designated Tecumseh First Baptist Building Fund as appropriate for memorials.
Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, March 22, 2019 and continue through service time. Family gathering to greet friends and family will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 22, 2019 at Cooper Funeral Home. Services will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 23, 2019 at Tecumseh First Baptist Church with Reverend Tony Peak officiating. Burial will follow at Tecumseh Cemetery under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.