Doris Alyne Scalf Parker, 94, passed away peacefully on May 1, 2018, in Tyler. Doris was born on March 24, 1924, in McKinney, Texas. She was the first child of Taylor Bryant Scalf and Hazel Iona (Ritter) Scalf, both now deceased, and spent her earliest years in McKinney in the McDonald Community. Doris graduated from Ennis High School in 1941.
During WWII Doris was a nurse cadet in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps program at Methodist Hospital of Dallas/Southern Methodist University. She graduated as a Registered Nurse (R.N.) in 1946 and continued to work at Methodist Hospital for several years. She worked in clinics In North Dallas until 1973. Doris met Gerald L. "Pete" Parker while he was on leave from the 82nd Airborne Division prior to the European Campaign. They corresponded throughout that time and were married in Dallas in 1944 while Pete was recovering from wounds he received in Normandy. They were married for 53 years.
The Parker family moved to Lake Palestine in 1974. They were residents of Lollipop Landing near Frankston. Doris served for several years on the Board of Directors of the Property Owners Association there allowing her the opportunity to serve her neighbors in her community. She moved to Tyler in 2007.
Doris maintained her nursing credentials for 50 years retiring in 1996. She was a Nursing Instructor at Trinity Valley Community College (formerly Henderson County College) for almost 20 years helping to build their Licensed Vocational Nursing program. She served on the Texas Governor's Board of Nursing Examiners in the 1980s and 1990s by appointment of Governor Bill Clements.
Doris was an avid defender of her faith in Jesus Christ. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in numerous church positions in the children's Primary Organization and Relief Society, the world-wide women's organization of the church. Most notably she served as Relief Society President of the Tyler Ward and as a counselor in the Gilmer Stake Relief Society. She was known and loved by her sisters and brothers in the church and community for her cheerful attitude and willingness to serve, not only in Tyler but in Dallas and Athens as well. Doris and Pete served in the Dallas Temple of the LDS Church.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and siblings - Leta Westbrook, Melba Curran, and Taylor Bryant Scalf, Jr., all of the Dallas, Texas area. She is survived by two sons Joe Edward Parker and wife Christine and Gerald Lynn Parker and wife Sue; nine grandchildren: Travis, James, Bryan, Paul, and Matthew Parker, and Chris Terjesen, Meredith Ethington, Lindsey Williams, and Paige Lewis. In addition, she is survived by twenty-two great-grandchildren: Morghan, Madison, Clayton, Jasper, Taylor, Clark, Logan, Ezra, Phoebe, Noah, Amilee, Desmond, Radin, Beckham, Owen, Hazel, Avery, Kyle, Tyler, Sydney, Chandler, and Faye. She also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews and their children.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 6, 2018, at Lloyd James Funeral Home in Tyler. Funeral services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 1617 Shiloh Rd., Tyler, at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 7. She will be interred at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery in Tyler.
