Grace Inez Parker, 95, of Pittsburg, KS, passed away on Dec. 5, 2024, at her residence. Grace was born on Nov. 16, 1929, in Batesville, MS to Robert and Lillian Inez (Howard) Cox. She grew up in Helena, AR and was a graduate of Helena High School where she was a majorette in the marching band.
After high school, she attended Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway, AR where she was a member of the Delta Sigma Epsilon sorority.
It was here that she met her future husband, Paul Webster Parker. They were married June 3, 1949, in Little Rock, AR and moved to Decatur, AR where they began their respective careers. During their 47 years of marriage, they lived in Washburn and Seligman, MO, Hattiesburg, MS, Batesville, AR, Iola, KS, and finally Pittsburg where Grace resided for the last 56 years. Some years after Paul's death, she married William Powell in 2001; they would later divorce in 2022.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Robert Warren and Lillian Inez Cox; her husband, Paul W. Parker; one sister, Frances W. Farrar of Brentwood, TN; a daughter, Nancy Grace Miller of Pittsburg, KS; and a daughter in law, Kathy Louise Parker of Scottsdale, AZ. She is survived by one son, Patrick W. Parker of Scottsdale, AZ; three granddaughters, Grace L. Tucker (Brandon) of Columbia, MO; Faith P. Helmerich (David) of Tulsa, OK; Heather Brin (Darin) of Phoenix, AZ; a grandson, John P. Miller (Madison) of Pittsburg, KS; two nieces, Frances Renee Ross (Bryan) of Cord, AR; Teri Denise Maples of Cammack Village, AR as well as seven great-grandchildren.
Grace was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Pittsburg and served as a Deacon for several years. She was also a member of PEO chapter CJ Beta Sigma Ph both in Pittsburg. After receiving her BSED in 1971 from Pittsburg State University Grace taught for 13 and a half years at Southeast High School in Cherokee, KS, primarily business, life skills, and typing courses. Grace would later receive a MSED in 1976 from Pittsburg State. She loved her students at Southeast and judging by the long-term connections she had with some of them they felt the same way.
Grace enjoyed cooking, travel, and "junque" hunts, especially with her best friend and longtime neighbor Dorothy Baker, who was a real treasure in her life. However, her most enjoyable activity was being a grandmother to Grace, Faith, and John, the true joys of her life.
Her family would like to thank her three wonderful caregivers over the last two years; Renee Lomax, Sherrita Allen, Brooklyn Wilson. We also want to thank the staff of Harry Hines Hospice for their assistance and support.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Dec. 16, at the Brenner Mortuary with Rev. Changwon Seo officiating. Burial will follow at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, at the National Cemetery in Ft. Scott, Kansas. Visitation will be held on Monday, Dec. 16, from 10 a.m. until service time at Brenner Mortuary in Pittsburg, KS. Memorial donations can be made to Pittsburg State University Department of Education. The service will be live streamed on our website (brennermortuary.com) through Grace's obituary page. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS.
