Florence Parker

Florence Parker, age 93, died of natural causes at her home in Kalispell on Aug. 7, 2004. She was born on June 2, 1911 at Rosalia, Kansas the daughter of Joseph and Orpha (Songer) Withrow.

She was educated in Englewood, Kan. She worked as a cook and bookkeeper at O.N. Parker and Sons Lumber from 1952 until 1974. She was united in marriage to Orville N. Parker on Aug. 4, 1928 at Lipscomb, Texas. She was an avid piano player as a young lady. She played with her father for many dances and celebrations. She moved to Montana in 1936 and in 1942 to Vancouver and worked in the shipyards as progress checker until 1945 and then returned to Montana. She then raised large gardens and raised her family until moving to Eureka in 1952. She also helped in mill working on the green chain and also helped in raising several of her grandchildren. She was a lovable mother, grandmother and will be missed by us all. She was a member of the Northridge Heights Church of God, Tobacco Valley Ridge Riders Saddle Club and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

She was preceded by her husband Orville Parker of Kalispell, Mont; her children, Billie Nelson and husband Earl of Kalispell; Bobby Parker and wife Phyllis of Bigfork; Betty Wise of Kalispell, and Chrystal Schomock of Nikiska, Ala.; two brothers, Carl Withrow, of Oklahoma City, and one of The Dalles, Ore., two sisters, on in The Dalles and one in Mount Vernon, Wash. Don Smith and Sharon Huxtable both of Okla; Mary Engle, Kevin Parker, George Wise, Deb Holder, Shelley Parker and Dennis Parker all of Eureka, Mont. Orville Wise of Huson, Mont; Charlie Wise of Kalispell, Tammy Richards of New Mexico; Kay Beyer of Hungry Horse; Rick Glazier of Pasco, Wash; James Glazier of Nikiska, Ala and Terry West of Little Rock, Ark; 24 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held on Friday, August 13, 2004, at Johnson Mortuary Chapel. Burial was private by the family in the Wise Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be sent to the Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA, 99210.

Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.