As a child, Catherine was raised in a Christian home with her two sisters. Around the age of 13, Catherine committed her life to the Lord Jesus Christ and was baptized in Sealy at the First Baptist Church. She loved cultivating a garden with her family and held very fond memories of traveling with her mother to Eagle Lake and Columbia, Texas. She attended Stephen F. Austin High School in Houston. After graduation, she moved on to business college and eventually left for Los Angeles to work during World War II.
In 1948 Catherine moved to Houston to begin a new chapter in her life. She had a 22-year career at the Division of Administration and Finance at the University of Houston. She considered this one of her proudest career accomplishments as well as being a departmental secretary at the College of Business.
For many years she enjoyed teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, attending the Baptist Women's Missionary Auxiliary and singing as a choir member of Forest Oaks Baptist Church. She was also a member of the Poetry Society of America, San Jacinto Chapter.
Catherine was preceded in death by her parents William and Hulda Malitz, her sisters Francis Peters and Willie Mae Roberts and her youngest son Gary Parker.
She is survived by her son Huling Parker (wife Paula) and her daughter Karen Parker; grandchildren Cindy Sterns, Julie Parker, Laurie Parker, Michael Parker, Houston Parker; and Conrad Parker; and great-grandchildren Carolynn Hileman, Hannah Grill and Huling Houston Parker, VI.
Visitation will be held on Friday, December 3, 2021 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Forest Park East Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at the Funeral Home Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 10:00 AM with Pastor Reza Rahimi officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Park East Cemetery.
