Ted is survived by the mother of his children, Jeanette (Bridges) Eiland; his four children: Tari (Victor) Matura, BoBo (Sandy) Eiland, and Tandra Eiland all of Winona, Mississippi and Traci (Kenneth) Daniel of Sherman, Texas; seven grandchildren: Cody Eiland, Justin Daniel, Ashley Bright, Lauren Matura, Emily Stanley, Jonathan Daniel and John-Michael Stanley; three great-grandchildren: Kaylen Eiland, Kinsley Bright and Koleson Bright; two sisters-in-law: Peggy (Bridges) Whitfield and Sara Margaret “Skeet” (Bridges) Simmons and many loving nieces, nephews and extended family. He is preceded in death by his parents, Fuller Fox and Lura Bell (Sharron) Eiland, and his siblings, Eugene Eiland, Fuller Osborne “Bill” Eiland, Carease Garrett, Martha Bell Massey, Sadie Rogers, EC “Jack” Eiland, Dorothy Roberts and Bobby Eiland.
Ted was born on May 14, 1941 in Winona, Mississippi. He attended Kilmichael High School in Kilmichael, Mississippi and Long Beach College in Long Beach, California. He married his high school sweetheart, Jeanette (Bridges), on September 4, 1958 in Winona, Mississippi and they had four children together. They moved their family to Texas in 1980. In 1984, they purchased Peoples’ Laundry and Cleaners in Bay City, Texas. Ted was deeply devoted to his business, his employees and his customers and actively managed the cleaners until the weeks preceding his death. In his spare time he enjoyed studying his family genealogy and watching military and classic western movies. His children remember him as a hard-working man and an involved father who supported them in activities and encouraged them to pursue their goals.
Ted served in the United States Navy from 1958 until 1963. His ranks included Seaman Recruit (SR), Fireman Apprentice (FA), Fireman (FN) and Electrician Mate 3rd Class (EM3). He was stationed in San Diego and Long Beach, California and Okinawa, Japan. He served on four minesweepers in the Pacific Fleet: USS Woodpecker (MSC-209), USS Esteem (MSO-438), USS Albatross (MSC-289) and USS Cape (MSI-2). In the 1990s, he planned and coordinated several reunions for his navy shipmates. He was a proud Veteran who enjoyed sharing his military experiences with his friends and family.
A remembrance gathering and military presentation ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at the American Legion located at 2106 Cottonwood Avenue in Bay City, Texas. Funeral services will be held at Milligan Springs Baptist Church located on Upper Milligan Springs Road in Stewart, Mississippi on Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Milligan Springs Cemetery.
Share words of comfort with the family at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.
