Louise Parker, Grandma Extraordinare

Geneva Louise Brooks Parker

September 19, 1931 - August 23, 2015 (almost 84 years old)

Married September 19, 1959 to Bob Parker

As a child, Grandma made me feel special and everything she did seemed like magic.

She called us nicknames like "sweetheart" and "sugar".  

She always paid close attention when we were talking to her.

She always had a candy bowl within reach.  

She had secret compartments in her house which meant there were always mysteries to solve.

She was a gourmet chef as far as I was concerned.

She used special holiday dishes and had fancy silverware.  

She let us help her bake cookies.

Her jewelry box was fit for a princess.  

She always wore panty hose and high heels.

She had her own sense of style and sewed her own clothes.

She sewed me dresses that I only wore to her house.  :)

She had a unique bump on the tip of her nose that I always believed was her beauty mark.

She loved to sing and especially loved Christmas songs.

She hosted the best sleepovers - we would watch the Lawrence Welk Show (and pretend that we didn't like it), go to bed late, sleep on only the softest foam pads, and wake up to a 7 course breakfast that included unfrosted pop tarts with butter on them - something only our grandma did.  

She taught me to play Gin, and let me win when we played Jenga.  

She cheered me on and supported me in everything I did.

She loved me just for being me.  

As an adult, I see my grandmother as a classy, extraordinary woman.  She was unselfish and sweet and kind, even until the last moments.  She loved to laugh and tease.  She was also a little stubborn and sassy, and I think I picked up my sporadic, occasional swearing habit from her.  She spent her whole life serving others.  She raised two kids - my dad and his sister, Julye, and took exquisite care of her husband, Bob.  After their family joined the church (my dad was 15 years old), she dedicated much of her adult life serving others through various church callings - she was the perfect choice for Relief Society President, Primary President, Young Women President, etc.  She even attended Girls Camp enthusiastically at age 65 and I heard that she came out of the tent in a dress!  She also spent many years taking care of her mother-in-law and mother in their old age and was a wonderful, loving nurse to them.  I think her most joyful service was spoiling us grandkids and being the world's best grandma!  

Over the last 10 years, I have slowly watched my grandmother age.  The magic has faded and reality set in - health issues, losing loved ones, and relying on others to take care of her became the new norm.  As she hoped for visitors and patiently waited for phone calls from friends/family, she was always gracious and never made anyone feel guilty for staying away too long or not keeping in better contact.  After all she gave, and after all she did, I feel as if she deserved better.  What was happening to this extraordinary woman in her old age seemed unfair.  And by the time I finally realized this, her extraordinary life came to a close.  However unfair it may have seemed, I was taught at a young age that life is often times unfair, but God is good.  I have faith and trust in His plan of salvation and know that our Heavenly Father is very aware of each person's needs and struggles, and will always be there to help us through the hard times.  

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." - Ecclesiastes 3:1

As my family gathered around her as she passed (parents, brothers, sister-in-law, aunt Julye), I was happy that she could be free from her earthly cares.  I know that she will be greeted by loved ones who she lovingly served and who have been waiting for her.  It was a peaceful experience that I will never forget.  

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." - John 14:27

As her only granddaughter, I hope to carry on her legacy.  I am already blessed with Grandma's sass, a love for sugar, and love to paint my fingernails.  I hope to bake more cookies, be more generous with the butter when cooking, have special dishes/silverware for special occasions, make holidays magical, pull out my sewing machine more often and make handmade items for my children and future grandchildren, be a little more fancy and lady-like (I can't promise I will wear nylons, but perhaps some red lipstick), and dedicate my life to serving others.  Just like my Grandma did.  

    (Wedding Photo, Las Vegas, NV)  

(Trip to Hawaii with her mom & mother-in-law)            

Grandma with Whitney

Grandpa & Granda with Dad, Whitney & Chad - 1989

Dad & Grandma - 2008

Julye & Grandma - 2010

Parker Family Picture at Grandpa's Funeral - 2009

Grandma with Rachel

Grandma with Andrew

Grandma with Kendall

Picture / card from Rachel that was sent to Grandma Parker recently - it is a drawing of the two of them

(pictures taken during her last few days)