Dorothy Jean Parker

Dorothy Jean Parker, 96, of Cave Creek, Arizona was born October 14, 1920 in Long Beach, California to Edward and Emily Sowerby Buckley, the last of eight children. She passed away February 7, 2017 after a long and interesting life in California and Arizona. Dorothy lived in Los Angeles and Orange Counties before moving to Arizona in 2001 at the age of eighty to share a home with her niece. She had made her home in Garden Grove for twenty-nine years and was an active member of St. Columban Catholic Church. Having been a stay-at-home wife and mother for nineteen years, Dorothy went to work at Bob’s Camera Mart in downtown Anaheim in 1958. Following the closing of that business, she went to work for the County of Orange in 1966.She worked in the Marshal’s office until her retirement in 1986 the last fourteen years as Chief Clerk in the West Orange County Judicial District. Dorothy was preceeded in death by her husband Rollie A. Parker in 1961 and in 1991 by her oldest son Michael D. Parker for whom the City of Orange police facility is named. She is survived by her son Patrick I. Parker, (Lynne) of Winchester, CA, daughter in law Kathy Parker of Colorado Springs, six grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Her nieces, Jan White, with whom she made her home in Arizona, Kathy Whidden of Idaho, nephew Edward Haskill of Mission Viejo, CA, and many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews also survive, as well as many old and dear friends. Dorothy was active in the Cursillo Movement in Los Angeles and Orange Diocese for twenty years as a volunteer teacher of high school religious education and served in many capacities in St. Columban parish. After her retirement she worked as a volunteer in the literacy program teaching non-reading adults and in the church office. She traveled extensively both during her working years and after her retirement, had many new adventures after moving to Arizona even having a book about her life published at the age of eight-seven, which was enjoyed and appreciated by her family and friends. The highlight of her eighty-ninth birthday was a hot air balloon ride.

Visitation for Dorothy will be held on February 15, 2017 from 4-8pm at Dimond & Shannon Mortuary. Funeral Mass will be at St. Columban Catholic Church, Garden Grove on February 16, 2017 at 10:30am followed by interment at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, Orange, CA. In lieu of flowers, donations to Cursillos in Christianity, c/o Sharon Bell, 1257 Kingsley Ave. Pomona, CA. 91767, Concern, America PO Box 1790 Santa Ana, CA. 92702, St. Gabriel Archangel Building fund, 32648 N. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, AZ 85331, or St. Columban School, 10801 Stanford, Ave. Garden Grove, CA, 92840. www.dimondshannonmortuary.com