Elsa Morene Parker Obituary (1923

Elsa Morene Dean Parker passed away peacefully at Cottage in the Meadow on August 11, 2014. She was born in Jermyn, TX on November 24, 1923 to Willie Lee and Sarah Elizabeth Hutto Dean. Morene grew up picking cotton on the family farm starting about the age of six with her nine siblings, which made for a very rough life. Sometime in the 1930's the family moved to Akron, CO where she went to high school and worked part time at Odell's Cafe. It was here she met her future husband, James Cyril (Cy) Parker. Cyril joined the Army and was stationed at the Pentagon, eventually being transferred to the OSS (predecessor of the CIA), and worked with Army Intelligence and the British to break the German Cipher Codex. Morene moved to Washington, D.C. and was employed at the Pentagon as a clerk. It was here on June 14, 1942 that she married James Cyril Parker and one year later had their first child, Jack. After leaving the Army they moved back to Akron, CO for awhile and then to Ft. Collins, CO, where their second child Angela was born. Cyril attended Colorado A & M, obtaining his degree in Animal Husbandry, and went to work for Ralston Purina and was transferred to Yakima,WA where their next two children, James Dean and Tina Lee were born. Cyril and Morene were some of the original founders of the Terrace Heights Presbyterian Church in the early 1950's. Morene was mostly a housewife but worked part time at Penny's. Cyril was a country singer and guitar player with the Western Playboys. After leaving Purina in 1973 they moved to Moses Lake, WA where Cyril went to work for Western Farmers Feed Company and both were active in the Moses Lake Senior Center where Cyril entertained with music and Morene was there to support all the activities. They built a home on the lake, had a boat and hosted numerous functions for the kids and grandkids. She was a very warm, loving and helpful mother to all of their children and grandchildren. Morene was preceded in death by her parents Willie Lee and Sarah Elizabeth Dean, siblings, Lorene, Edith, twin sister Corene, William, Lester, Oliver R. (Bud), Joseph E. (Skip), Tommy. She is survived by her children, Jack (Susan) Parker, Yakima, WA, Angela Parker, Silver Lake, WA, James D. (Debbie) Parker, Tomball, TX and Tina Lee (Todd) Worms of Valdosta, GA, grandchildren, Jeffrey Parker and John Parker of Yakima, WA, Joseph (Roxanne) Parker, Sandia Park, NM, Summer (Scott) Fryar, Plano, TX, Justin (Samantha) Parker, Plano, TX, Darrin Blocklinger, Pacific, WA, Tony Noll, Gig Harbor, WA, James Joseph Parker and Sara Michelle Parker, Spring, TX, Jacob Parker, Tomball, TX, Israel Lloyd, Littleton, CO, Thomas (Meagan) Lloyd, Seattle, WA, Teddy Worms, Zak Worms and Chelan Worms, Valdosta, GA. Morene is also survived by 9 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Our special thanks goes to Joan Allyn and the staff of Hearthstone Cottage Assisted Living in Ellensburg, WA, Jack and Paul Reese and staff of Cedar Hills Adult Family Home, Yakima and David Eichwald and staff of Cottage in the Meadow Hospice of Yakima. These facilities served Morene very well in her time of need. There will be a family graveside service at a later date. Shaw and Sons are making arrangements.