PARKER, Berniece Thelma (McElroy) 1914-2006

PARKER, KIEFER, MCELROY

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/23/2009 at 18:41:12

Berniece T. Parker

ROCKFORD, IOWA — Berniece T. Parker, 91, a resident of the Madrid Home for the Aging in Madrid, and formerly of Rockford, died Monday morning (Jan. 9, 2006) due to complications of Alzheimer’s disease.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the First United Methodist Church, 205 First Ave N.W. , Rockford, with the Rev. Kenneth Kent officiating. Interment will be in Hillside Cemetery in Marble Rock.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at Fullerton Funeral Home, 302 W. Main St., Rockford. The visitation will continue one hour prior to services on Thursday at the church.

Those wishing to extend memorials or expressions of sympathy may direct them to the Rockford Public Library in Berniece’s name.

Thoughts, condolences and stories may be e-mailed to the family on the www.fullertonfh.com Web site.

Berniece Thelma Parker was born Aug. 23, 1914, in rural Butler County near Greene to Lewis and Rose (Kiefer) McElroy. She was the first born of six children and the twin of sister, Bernadine. Berniece attended and graduated from Rockford Community Schools and lived in the Rockford area all her life until the past four years, when she moved to and resided at the care facility in Madrid.

Berniece was a 60-year member of the First United Methodist Church in Rockford and was active in the church women’s circle. In her earlier years, Berniece enjoyed her membership in the Rockford Ladies Club.

On April 25, 1936, Berniece was united in marriage to Edgar B. Parker at the Marble Rock Baptist Church. The couple established their farming operation and became the proud parents of three children. In 1952, Berniece and Edgar purchased the Allis Chalmers-New Idea Implement Company in Rockford and moved to town.

Some of Berniece’s hobbies and leisure activities included quilting, knitting, especially sweaters for her family, tending to her “showplace flower gardens and house plants,” arranging flowers, collecting glassware and art glass and creating craft decorations. Her legacy was in her ability to bake breads, hot cross buns and pies. As a new bride, Berniece entered a local bread-baking contest, won first place and was awarded 50 pounds of flour. The bragging rights were important to her because she was one of, if not the youngest contestant.

Berniece also found great joy in sewing clothing and cooking. She delighted in cooking the fish and game brought home to her from her family and the day to day cooking of homemade meals for her family and friends. She was a thrifty spender and was a very caring person. Berniece had the ability to make everyone feel welcome when coming into her home.

Berniece was a loving and nuturing wife, mother and grandmother and will be dearly missed by all who have shared in her life.

She is survived by her daughter, Diana (Bob) Barry of Indianola; her son, Dennis (Ronda) Parker of Dansbury, Wis.; her sister, Mary Ott of Greene; her two brothers, Charles McElroy of Rockford and Robert McElroy of Charles City; her two grandchildren, Robyn (Mike) Depping and Stuart (Jen) Barry; her three great-granddaughters, Sierra, Ava and Layna Depping and numerous other relatives and friends.

Preceding Berniece in death are her husband, Edgar B. Parker in 1991; her infant son, Michael Parker; her parents, Lewis and Rose McElroy; her twin sister, Bernadine Nash and her brother, William McElroy.

Fullerton Funeral Home and Cremation Services, (641) 756-3311. www.fullertonfh.com.

[Jan. 11, 2006; Mason City Globe Gazette]