Melba was the eldest of Hazel and Ed Rucker’s three daughters and made family her priority throughout her life. She married Tom Parker in 1948 and they divorced in 1972 with three sons.
She was a fierce and dedicated advocate for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and everyone she loved. Melba lived each day with a strong Christian faith, a direct prayer line to her Lord, and a hymn or Gospel song at the ready in her beautiful singing voice.
Melba began her career in tax preparation at H&R Block in the 1960s and was a successful business owner of Melba’s Tax and Bookkeeping and then Parker’s Tax and Accounting for almost 50 years. With family at her side, she served generations of clients year after year, only retiring after the 2018 tax season.
In her younger days, she was an avid bowler and enjoyed cruises and travel with friends, often bringing back colorful baubles and trinkets for her grandchildren. Throughout her later years, she was a court appointed special advocate (CASA) for abused and neglected children.
Melba will be remembered as a strong, generous matriarch who would do whatever she could to help those she loved, whether they wanted her to do it or not. She held firm in her beliefs of right and wrong and showed her love through acts of service, small gifts, and laughter. No one ever left her home hungry or empty-handed.
Melba is preceded in death by her parents, Hazel and Julius “Ed” Rucker, her sister Edna Jones, her firstborn infant son, and her son Gregg Parker. She is survived by her sons Terry Parker and Randy Parker, her sister Mary Hawkins, 10 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces, and her beloved poodle, Sally.
There will be a funeral service on Monday, February 4th at 2:30 pm at Brookside Funeral Home (13747 Eastex Fwy, Houston, TX 77039) with internment to follow. The viewing will be Sunday, February 3rd from 5:00-8:00 pm at Brookside.
