Evelyn Ernesteen Highfill Parker (Saxton)
Evelyn died peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Monday, April 12th at 3:11 pm. She passed away after a valiant battle and struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Just like her favorite Frank Sinatra song, she lived life to the fullest and did it her way! She was a leap year baby born on leap year of 1928. She was 93 years old.
This little firecracker sweetheart was born on February 29, 1928 in Idabel, Oklahoma to Johnny and Lucille Highfill. She enjoyed her life on the farm and enjoyed picking raspberries and collecting gum sap for her mom to make chewing gum for her. They were very poor but she didn’t know because she had lots of love from her mom and dad and brothers and sisters. She is preceded in death by her parents; one son, Gary Lee Parker; and one sister, Claudia Burt, two brothers, Kenneth Garner and Robert HIghful. She has one surviving brother, John Garner (Renau) and two surviving sisters-in-law, Renau Garner and Louise Garner. Her only surviving child is Diana Parker Mathis (Chuck).
In addition she is survived by 5 grandchildren: Michael Parker, Steve Parker (Maronica), Ericka Thompson (Christian) Aaron Mathis (Katie) and Christopher Parker (Allison).
She truly loved them all, including 8 great-grandchildren: Noah Parker, Leah Parker, Nina Parker, Caden Thompson, Ava Mathis, Grayson Mathis, Mackenzie Parker and Chase Parker.
Some called her grandma Evelyn and some called her Nana, but they all loved her equally. Also loved were nieces and nephews: Jeff, Christopher, Jenifer, Melissa, Johnny and Lila Highful, Barbara and David Stevenson, Ron & Penny Highful, Larry & Beverly Highful, Jim and Belinda Highful, Carla and Joel Billingsley, Sonya Brewer, Joy Shrouder, Georgette Bell, Jamie and Ronnie Prince, Darla and Grayson, and Dewayne Garner, and many other great nieces and nephews.
On a personal note, mom was a very adventurous, brave and intelligent woman. In 1955 she traveled by plane to Alexandria, Egypt with a five-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old son. My Dad, Louis, was already working there. He was doing offshore drilling and we were joining him. She thought nothing of traveling with two little kids all the way around the world and then in 1958 when Dad was working in Venezuela we moved to Anaco, Venezuela which had a population of over 107,000 people. However, we lived in an American camp surrounded by guards. It is here that she learned how to play her favorite game of Bridge! Through the years she continued playing bridge and became quite skilled. She also mentored many bridge students throughout the years. She was truly a master at it!
In the late 1960s and early 1970s she was president of the Grand Junction Newcomer’s Club. Also, She was a member of the Mining and Petroleum Club and continued that membership for many years. She always supported me and my brother in our various activities throughout our life. In her younger years as a teenager she did some modeling and she grew up in Broken Bow Oklahoma until she married. It should be noted that there was really nothing she couldn’t do. She made all of my special clothes for high school dances and she also sewed my wedding dress. She helped raise two grand children whose mother passed away when they were younger and has been a constant source of companionship for all of us. Some of the other activities she enjoyed were golf, dancing, fishing, camping, music and being a housewife. After she was widowed she was a bookkeeper by trade which she taught herself.
There is no doubt that she is the best dressed and well cared for lady you could ever meet! Really, in our family she was a fashion icon!! I have never seen her without her makeup on!!
She loved nature and tending to her roses and other flowers. Until the age of 91 or so she was self sufficient, truly amazing. Evelyn’s children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews were the pride and joy of her life. The legacy of her kind spirit, passion for bridge and zest for life will live on through them because she was truly an inspiration to all who knew her. We love you Mom.........
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