Thelma Lee Parker

Her early life in Alabama was surrounded by family and love, three brothers and three sisters. An early stint doing 'cotton picking' sparked her path in motion, she would have no part of that. So at the age of 14 she set out on the bus, with her mother's blessings, to live with her sister and brother-in-law Mae and Barnard Guffey and their two children Mel and Shirley in San Francisco.

In San Francisco, at the sweet age of 16, she set eyes on Ray DeAnda, and it was mutual love at first sight. When Ray brought Thelma home to the family in West Sacramento, nothing would ever be the same again for the DeAndas! They immediately all fell in love with Thelma and her southern charm, and she with them.

Ray's parents became "Ma and Pa" to her and everyone else thereafter. Soon came marriage and daughter Debbie followed by son Michael. As the DeAnda family grew, there were tons of cousins, gatherings, parties and memories. Thelma loved them all, and sister-in-law Julia Runyan Perry became her lifelong confident and rock.

Thelma got involved early on in the fashion industry, working and managing the Kendall's dress shop in West Sacramento. She organized fashion shows and beauty pageants. All her friends in West Sac soon became 'models' and appeared with Thelma weekly in the local paper, wearing the latest fashions, with partner-in-crime Jewell Mattos as lead model and co-conspirator.

Thelma's life in West Sac took a tragic turn upon husband Ray's sudden death at the age of 42.

After the intense adjustment period without Ray, another chapter opened in her life when she met and married Harold Parker. By all accounts, it was a fairy-tale love and relationship for both of them. They traveled the world and each became part of the other's families; Thelma's daughter Debbie and son-in-law Larry MacClain, son Michael, and Harold's three sons Bill, Jim and John Parker. Again, it was mutual love and respect from her new family and she shared her love and light.

Tragically, Harold was taken from her life by a sudden death after just two years of marriage, and again Thelma experienced and grappled with this incredible loss.

She turned her focus at that time to another chapter--a career and eventual business as a licensed esthetician. She thrived in this arena for over 40 years, and eventually opened her own facial and beauty business.

For a few years after losing Harold, Thelma was single. She and a large group of friends became the ladies who 'lunch' and hold court at the BackDoor restaurant in Old Sacramento.

Then another joyous event occurred during this time...she became 'Nana' with the arrival of grandson Matthew MacClain in 1977!

Along the way she met Floyd Peters, who would become her life companion for over 25 years. Both shared a love of people, gatherings, family, and travel, but mostly--ALABAMA! They spent many weeks or sometimes months vacationing in Alabama. Floyd was as smitten with Alabama as he was with Thelma. He loved the fishing, hunting, food, and family, but above all loved Thelma's dear mother Hattie, who never had an unkind word for anyone.

During this time her new 'best friends' Rosemary and Clifford McClure moved into the neighborhood. Thelma & Roe became inseparable as did the guys, and there was always an occasion or crab feed or golf event or party to attend.

Also during this period came the marriage of Michael and Marilyn DeAnda, and two more grandchildren, Christian and Andrew DeAnda, who Floyd "Poppi" doted on and extended his old-school version of child-rearing. They loved him!! Sadly a devastating but swift illness-leukemia-took Floyd from us all too soon.

Thelma eventually began another courtship and 15-year romance with her fiancé Bob Cardoza. She became part of and loved by his 'work family' at Quality First Home Improvement. Bob's love for her was so strong that he bravely stayed her loving companion even through her debilitating final days. He would always tell her how beautiful she was, even to the end.

Thelma's legacy was not one of multiple hobbies or clubs or membership to groups, but one of connection and caring to all those around her. There was a warmth and magnetism to her presence, and when she entered a room, her favorite phrase was "how are all you beautiful people doing?" She always brought the love and the light.

Thelma, Mom, Nana-no words can describe how you will be missed.

~There are some who bring a light so great to the world that even after they have gone, their light remains.~