Thelma Teak Kershaw Gillan, 99, of Shark River Hills died at home on March 25, 2015. Teak was a lifelong resident of Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, and Neptune, NJ. She was born June 25, 1915, to Ida and Thomas Kershaw in New York City. The family moved to Asbury Park in 1919 after first summering there. After her father's untimely death in December of 1928, her mother transformed their home on Sunset Lake into a rooming house. Teak spent her childhood on the move, lettering in everything from field hockey and basketball to water polo. She also enjoyed ice staking, swimming and surfing on her mother's ironing board. She graduated from Asbury Park High School in 1933, and remained a lifelong supporter. After high school, Teak spent several years working in banking in New York City. She met William Bill Gillan, Jr. through First Baptist Church of Asbury Park, and the two were married there in 1939 and took a charter boat to Florida for their honeymoon. During WWII, as her husband trained for and fought in the army, they lived in the south. After WWII, the couple welcomed two children, Barbara Bobbie Joan and later William Bud, into their family. Jointly, Teak and her husband owned several businesses including Gillan Home Services, Bill's Tackle Shop, The Sandpiper, The Boat Dock, and Fish and Chips Seafood. While raising a family and helping to run the businesses, Teak was also a Girl Scout leader for many years. She was a student of the Bible and taught many classes in it. Teak also loved to socialize and serve others, and their home was often the epicenter of activity for friends, youth groups, missionaries, church gatherings, and family gatherings. These gatherings usually included her fantastic cooking, especially fresh seafood. Teak was a self-proclaimed beach bum, spending summers on the sand with their huge beach gang. She also loved the water, spending much time with her husband, a maritime specialist and fisherman, on his boats. A constant nature hobbyist and birder, Teak always maintained a beautiful garden full of trees, flowers, and fruit as well multiple bird feeders. In her 70s, she beat cancer through radical changes in her diet, becoming a pioneer of using healthy foods to fight disease. She advocated voting and participation in local and national politics. Perhaps Teak's most lasting impact is her positive connection with others through mentorship, encouragement and continuous prayer. Teak is predeceased by her parents, her husband, Bill, and her daughter, Bobbie. She is survived by her son William Bud D. Gillan, III and his wife Nancy Ann of Boca Raton, FL, and their children Jamie B. Gillan of Washington, DC, and Hans M. Gillan of Philadelphia, PA; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren Randy Larrison and his wife Lynn of Centerreach, NY, and their children Kieran Lynn and Mikaela Glen; Mindy Copenhaver and her husband Shawn of Jupiter, FL, her daughter Devanny Moira and their son Rhett William; Wendy Larrison of Tampa, FL; and Adam Ewart of Columbus, OH; and being the matriarch of a large family, numerous nieces, nephews, and grand and great nieces and nephews. A memorial celebration will be held at 11am on Saturday, April 4th at First Baptist Church of Asbury Park, 508 Third Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ 07712. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to First Baptist Church of Asbury Park.