Evie ‘Pearl’ Parker

Evie “Pearl” Parker passed away Dec. 24, 2018, in Mexia at the age of 91.  Funeral services will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 29, at Temple Baptist Church with Brother Michael Vestal and Brother Joe David Sandifer officiating.  Interment will follow in the Lost Prairie Cemetery.

Visitation with the family will be 5-7 p.m. Friday at Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home.

The following obituary was written by Mrs. Parker:

Evie Pearl Sandifer was born July 6, 1927, in Limestone County in the community of Lost Prairie, Texas, to Lorena Lansford Sandifer and Ruby Sandifer.  At a very early age my Mom, Dad and I moved to Prairie Point, near Groesbeck, TX, where I lived most of my life growing up. Being joined by a large family of nine sisters and two brothers.  We are a large happy family (most of the time).  We were poor folks but did not know it – never went to bed hungry and shown plenty of love.  Life was hard, and we all had our work to do, watching kids, picking cotton, chopping cotton, laundry done on a rub board, breaking the cows to be milked and any kind of farm work that needed to be done.

I went to school in the little school called Prairie Point School.  Went to high school in Groesbeck and graduated in May 1945.

I moved to Waco and got a job at Hawk and Buck Garment Factory, making khaki pants and underwear for Army boys. There I met and later married Levi Franklin Parker on Dec. 7, 1945.  We were blessed with five wonderful children, Betty Jane, Franklin Nelson “Butch,” Joel Lee, Paula Sue and Rena Fay. During our 58 years of marriage, we moved lots.  Places we lived, Waco, Groesbeck, Elkhart, Centerville, Pampa, Big Valley, Houston, Galveston and Forest Glade, TX.  Then in 1959, we moved to Mexia with all our kinds in tow.  There we lived the remainder of our married life, watching our children grow up, adding to those, grandchildren, grea-grandchildren and now even, great-great-grandchildren.

On Jan. 22, 2004, the Lord called Levi home. I lived in Mexia until I moved to Corsicana in 2016.

I lived a wonderful life with lots of joys and sorrows. The Lord has always been faithful. I love getting together with family and friends and visiting.  I like to cook favorite dishes for those I know and love.

I have a great passion for sewing.  Have made over 100 quillows in the past year for my kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, great-great-grandchildren, family, friends, and yes, even strangers that I have never met.  Plus, I have made baby blankets, bibs, caps, burp pads, and other items for Care Net in Waco, family and friends.  In addition, made 75 quillows for three Teen Battle Line Ministry Homes in San Antonio, that was started by the maintenance man at the apartments that I lived at in Mexia.  This ministry was started to get the kids off the street.  I had help from my daughters, my sisters and many others too numerous to mention.  The Temple Baptist Church helped provide Bibles and book markers that were sent to explain the colors in the middle of the quillows, giving the Plan of Salvation.

The most glorious and rewarding times of my journey here – was the day I asked Jesus to save and guide me.  I was baptized in Pampa.  The birth and salvation of my five wonderful children and most of my grandchildren.

The greatest blessing of being a part of many churches as I moved from place to place. All the wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ.  The Christian fellowships, glory to God singings, revivals -preachings, prayers and love shown me all those years.

One of my fond memories is one time, all the Parker kids and grandkids and my two brothers came to Big Valley.  We had an old-timey hog-killing, scalded and scraped hog, then made cracklings, stuffed sausage, the whole nine yards and had so much fun. Grandkids wanted to know when we are going to do it again.  While living there, we had lots of company and lots of wonderful memories.

I enjoyed living at a beautiful place with a pond, with fish jumping out of the water and numerous multi-colored birds; this setting was so peaceful and gave me much joy.  Living out the remainder of my days, one thought goes through my mind, will all of my family know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior?  I hope and pray you ask Jesus to save you before it is too late.

I want to thank everyone that played an important part in my life, you will know who you are.

I am now at my final home; hope to see you all soon.

Glory to God. Praise the Lord.

Fare the Well

Pearl Parker

Please visit www.blairstubbs.com to leave a message of condolence or sign the guest book.