Mrs. Marie W Parker

Marie was born Lillie Marie Wisecarver on August 11, 1925 in Berryville, Virginia in the upper bedroom of a small family home. Her parents, Marie and Charles, already had a son, Charlie, and later added two more brothers to the family, David (Bucky) and Kenneth.

At Berryville High School, Lillie was popular among her peers and quite the athlete. 5'2" Lillie even played basketball. In 1946 she graduated from Winchester Memorial Hospital Nursing School with her RN, cap and pin for which she was so very proud. Cecil Parker married his "Lolly" on December 21, 1946 and they celebrated their 50th anniversary in the Fellowship Hall at Fairfax UMC. Cecil passed in 1997.

Marie and Cecil had two daughters (Jeanne Bruns and Pam Burton), five grandchildren (Sarah Burton McWilliams, Kristie Burton Miller, Tommy Burton, Lori Bruns Wember, and Mikki Bruns), and two great grandsons (Levi McWilliams and Kaiden Miller). Marie is also survived by her son-in-law, Rick Burton, three grandsons-in-law (Mike McWilliams, David Miller, and Jason Wember), two nephews (Andy Wisecarver and Kendall Wisecarver), three nieces (Jo Ann Longerbeam, Lynn Johnson, Tammy Potter) and their families. Her son-in-law, Paul Bruns, preceded her in death.

Marie's faith was at the heart of her life. She was active at Fairfax UMC, participating in worship, fellowship, service activities and as a member of the Women's Society. She also bowled with Cecil and Pam on the church bowling league. In later years when Marie was unable to attend church services on Sunday mornings, she went to church by television and continued her daily devotions faithfully each morning from her orange chair where the early sun poured in the front window.

Marie loved nursing. As a new bride, she started her career at Arlington Hospital, now Virginia Hospital Center. After a break to have her children, Marie was the head nurse at Fairfax Lodge Nursing Home where her special gift and affinity for the elderly blessed her senior patients. Her final nursing assignment was in a doctor's office in Fairfax Medical Center. Her diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis pushed her into early retirement. However, Marie was not one to give up. For many years she and Cecil went to water therapy at the YWCA three days a week. There she bonded with fellow participants and that group has remained close to this day. Marie also took up needlework, first crewel and later counted cross stitch. She completed and framed over 100 pieces, most of which were gifts, such as baby and wedding samplers.

Marie has been a dear and influential part in the lives of countless people. Many of them happily welcomed her home on Sunday morning, the day after her 93rd birthday. We love and miss you, Mrs. Parker, Marie, Lillie, Mom, Mother, Aunt Lillie, Gran'ma and Mimi!