Ruth Parker

Ruth Bonita Parker, the daughter of Clarence and Martha (Goeche) McDonald, was born Sept. 24, 1930, in Carroll and departed this life on Dec. 13 at the Regency Park Care and Rehab Center in Jefferson.

She lived a full life to the age of 90 years, two months and 19 days.

Ruth was raised in the Scranton area, and attended and graduated from Scranton High School in 1951.

Ruth was married and gave birth to two children, Judith and Gregory, and was later divorced. On Sept. 25, 1959, Ruth was married to Lloyd Parker Jr. in Pocahontas. Lloyd brought his two children to the family from his first marriage, Deneil and Deneise. A daughter, Dezetta, was born to the union of Ruth and Lloyd. 

The Parker family made their home in Churdan and Ruth raised her family and worked various jobs, mainly as a restaurant cook in Jefferson and Churdan. Ruth loved to cook, knit, garden, sew (especially Barbie clothes) and being with her grandchildren.  

Lloyd passed away suddenly on May 31, 1994, and Ruth continued to make her home in Churdan until her health began to fail. In 2014, Ruth moved to the Regency Park Care and Rehab Center where she was a resident until her death.

Ruth was a longtime member of St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Churdan. 

Left to mourn her passing are her children: Gregory (Kalheen) Marquart, of Boone; Dezetta (Marlin) Thompson, of Jefferson; Deneise (Keith) Behrens, of Meriden; and Deneil Parker, of Wisconsin; 15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two brothers: Richard (Rose) McDonald, of Scranton, and Dennis (Joyce) McDonald, of Michigan; and sister Bev (Howard) Teel, of California.

Those who preceded her in death were her parents, husband, daughter Judy, sister Agnes in childhood and grandson James. 

Funeral services were held Dec. 21 at the Brown Funeral Home in Jefferson with Father John Gerald officiating and Stephanie Baily with words of remembrances of her grandma.

Burial was made in the Highland Twp. Cemetery in Churdan.

Musical selections “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art” were played at the service.

Serving as casket bearers were Greg W. Marquart, Adam Marquart, Stephen Bailey, Stephanie Bailey, Jacob Thompson and Nolan Ford.