Anita was born on December 16, 1936 in Avalon, Texas to William and Pauline Parsley. She spent most of her teenage years working on a dairy farm with her family, rising early before school to work. After graduating from high school in Rio Vista, Texas, she worked in a variety of occupations before settling down and starting a family. She then spent almost 30 years raising her five children while the family worked a farm and then they eventually moved into church ministry in Texas, California, and Wisconsin. Anita was a supportive spouse and mother, serving diligently alongside her husband in whatever church he was ministering to. She encouraged each of her children to be servants alongside her throughout the family’s time in ministry. Anita feared nothing when it came to serving the Lord. She would use the talents she was blessed with and some she wasn’t to ensure the work was always done. Later in life after her children were grown, she went back to work, serving even more. She spent approximately ten years working with students at developing their resumes and assisting them with finding their first jobs upon graduation.
Anita loved to cook and knew what each of her children’s favorite dishes were. Even as the years progressed and she no longer cooked meals for herself, she was known to find a way to bake cookies and desserts for her children and grandchildren.
Anita is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Perry and Julie Gist of Modesto, CA and Mike and Dereca Gist of North Richland Hills, TX; two daughters, Caroline Milner of Fort Worth, TX and Angela Gist of North Richland Hills, TX; daughter-in-law, Jo Anna Gist of Benton, AR; sister, Billie Jo Richards of Bedford, TX, brother, Carl Benson of Cleburne, TX; grandchildren Kelsey Jones, Laila Cook, Travis Gist, Megan Gist, Ben Milner, Harrison Gist, Jack Gist, Truman Gist, Will Gist, Sam Gist, and Max Gist; and a number of other relatives and wonderful caregivers. She is preceded in death by her husband Ed Burkhardt and her son Brad Gist, which is Caroline’s twin brother.
Visitation will be held on Friday May 18th from 9:00am -10:00am at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home in Colleyville, Texas. The funeral service will be held at 10:00am in the Bluebonnet Hills Chapel. Interment will follow at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park.
Anita loved flowers, but she loved people more, especially those in need. Flowers are appreciated and accepted, but for those who wish to follow Anita’s kind heart, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.
