My Memorial Tribute to my Mother

On this day, April 13, 2009, Ethel Barbara Garrabrant Parker passed from this world to her eternal time with her Savior and Lord, Jesus, at 7:15 p.m. EDT at Saint Joseph Hospital in Elmira, New York.  My mother was born on January 19, 1919 to Ralph Garrabrant, died in 1935, and Louie Vought Garrabrant, died in 1982, in Sayre, PA.  She had one sister, Estelle Garrabrant Frendberg who lives in Phoenix, AZ and one brother, Andrew Garrabrant, who predeceased her in death.  She graduated from Elmira Heights Central School District in Elmira Heights, New York where she attended and graduated from Elmira Business Institute in Elmira, New York.  She served in the United States Navy as a WAVE in 1944 being trained as a baker until she was discharged in 1945 to give birth to her first son, Geoffrey Edward Parker, born on November 1, 1945.  She was married to Harold H. Parker in Phoenix, AZ and served with him as wife, mother, and migrant farm worker throughout the Southwest United States.  She gave birth to a daughter, Louise Pearl Parker McIntosh in Los Angeles, California on December 25, 1950.  She returned to New York State in 1952 when her husband succumbed to his alcohol addiction and left her with a son, a daughter, and a baby on the way that was her third child, Gary Lee Parker, born on August 2, 1952 in Elmira, New York.  She moved to Waverly, NY where she raised her three children as a single mother.  She was invited to the Waverly First Church of the Nazarene in 1953 for the Vacation Bible School program that her oldest son attended and was a part of the program.  From this point forward, she reclaimed Jesus as her Lord, Savior, and Sanctifier.  She loved the local Nazarene church because the practice and beliefs were similar to the Oakwood Avenue Methodist Church in Elmira Heights, New York where she was baptized and confirmed in the faith of Jesus.  As her three children grew, she began working part time in the Waverly Central Schools’ Cafeteria at the Lincoln Street Elementary School in 1962.  She worked in this cafeteria as the baker and dishwasher until she retired in 1981 to take care of her mother until her mother passed from this life to her eternal reward.  She was proud of all three of her children, Geoffrey(Georgina) in Richland, WA, Louise(Stephen) in Horseheads, NY, and Gary in Mission, KS, her five grandchildren, Stacy(Todd) Gardner in Horseheads, NY, Adrienne(Ken) Cotton in Washington, Lori(Mike) Nourse in North Carolina, Greg Parker in Washington, and James Parker in Kansas, and three great-grandchildren Alyssa & Kayla Gardner in Horseheads, NY and Alex & Ella Nourse in North Carolina.  She was proud to live the faith of Jesus Christ to her co-workers, neighbors, friends, and her family.  She loved missions and the Church of the Nazarene and when a missionary came to speak at her church, she always gave what she could even if she gave the last bit of money from her wallet.  She was an active part of the Waverly First Church of the Nazarene as a board member, Sunday school teacher, cradle roll superintendent, and supporting the church in anyway she could.  She was active in being in service to the community whether it was as a Brownie leader, den mother, or band mother.  She loved the community of Waverly. The legacy that my mother leaves is one of a deep faith in the One who created and still creates everything and a love for her family and friends to live a life worthy of her Savior and Lord, Jesus the Christ, the one who gives life in this world and His kingdom for all eternity.  She will be missed, but at this writing I do not know how people who were influenced by her life of love and care especially the marginalized people who have had some kind of impairment.  At the telephone conversation with my sister at 6:47 p.m. CDT, my sister stated that our mother did not want a memorial service for her.  I wonder if the way to honor my mother would not to set up a scholarship fund at Eastern Nazarene College and Nazarene Theological Seminary for people called to be missionaries whether overseas or stateside missions.  May the God of grace and the one who continually gives life be with all people who were positively impacted by my mother’s love for Jesus, the Church of the Nazarene, and people she knew and did not know but prayed for?  I will miss my mom, but I know that right now she is watching over her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family, friends, but especially her brothers and sisters in Jesus.  I give you God’s Grace, Peace and Life to all who read this.

Love from Mrs. Barbara Parker’s

January 16, 1919 to April 13, 2009

 Youngest son,

Gary Lee Parker