Julie Beth Flatt Parker

Julie Beth Flatt Parker passed away peacefully at home in San Antonio after a long struggle with dementia and a heart condition. Her husband of 61 years was at her side. A kind, considerate, vivacious, witty soul has gone home to the arms of her Lord.

Julie was preceded in death by her parents, Mary Grace Adams Flatt and Wallace Hall Flatt. She is survived by her husband, George Priestley Parker, Jr.; daughter Judge Laura Lee Parker and her husband Dr. Fred Rhame and granddaughter Catherine Grace Rhame, all of San Antonio; her son George Priestley Parker III and his wife Tina Dellis of Durango, Colorado; grandson Dr. Travis Michael Priestley Parker and his wife Meghan Parker, Travis’s mother, Melissa Rowcliffe, and great-grandchildren Colton, Adelyn and Gracie Parker, all residing in New Braunfels, Texas; brother David Flatt and his wife, Jan, and sister Gladney Johnson all of Dallas; and sister Paula Snyder of Houston. Julie was affectionately called “Amir” by her grandchildren and great grandchildren, which resulted from grandson Travis, as a baby, pronouncing grandmother” as “Amir.” The name “Amir” stuck through the rest of her life.

Julie was born on August 4, 1946 in Austin, Texas and graduated from Austin High School in 1964. Shortly after graduation, she married her first love, George, who entered UT Law School in 1965. Julie was also George’s first love. Julie typed all of the notes he took in his classes, to which he attributed his great success in law school. In 1968, Julie and George and their family moved to Los Angeles, where George began his legal career. In 1972, they moved to San Antonio and have lived in the same house in Alamo Heights for the past 54 years, with a second home in Telluride, Colorado. In San Antonio, George practiced labor law, and Julie perfected her fine artistic skills and became active in various nonprofits in the city, including Citizens for a Better Environment, the Conservation Society (running booths at NIOSA) and her favorite nonprofit—Communities in Schools of San Antonio. As a CIS volunteer, Julie mentored a first-grade boy at Pershing Elementary School for an entire school year. When she started, the child would barely speak his own name; when Julie finished the year, the boy proclaimed “I want to be mayor of San Antonio!” Julie was nominated for volunteer of the year in San Antonio.

Julie was one of the original founders of Hospice San Antonio and served on its Board for six years. She was a Docent at the McNay Art Museum and the San Antonio Zoo. She also volunteered at the Ah Haa School for the Arts in Telluride. Julie and George were major supporters of the Telluride Foundation from its inception in 2001 and supported the San Miguel Resource Center.

After her children were almost grown, Julie attended UTSA, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities in 1988 with honors.

How do I describe Julie: She was beautiful in mind, spirit and appearance; young looking (79, but looked no more than 50). She was creative and an exceptional artist, with lots of compassion for others; petite, but strong; never sought acclaim or the spotlight; gave of herself to others; smart and inquisitive; tolerant, honest, sincere, never prejudiced. She was a private person, sensitive, had many friends, playful with a great sense of humor and a sparkle in her eyes, quiet, energetic, generous; made others feel good about themselves; warm and affectionate; frugal in a good way; reliable; nurturing; loving and always considerate and kind.

What did Julie like: friends and family; nature and the outdoors; bird and wildlife watching; whales; taking walks; touching and holding hands; cuddling; reading; the philosophy of Iris Dement's song, "Let the Mystery Be"; music with a message; watching Steve Green and the Telluride Gold Kings sing “I Love You Julie,” a song Steve wrote for Julie; having dinner at the table in the front window at Rustico Restaurant in Telluride; showing her friends her son George’s incredible metal work art; movies at the theater; small gatherings; The New York Times; progressive thinkers; sitting still and waiting for wild creatures to emerge from the woods; the wonders of science; yoga and exercise; swimming; creating art; playing Scrabble; Mexico; flowers in the house; hearing me say her name; hugs; kisses on her forehead and eye lids; clean air; spending summers at our home in Telluride and going for drives in the Telluride mountains; dancing around the house with a big smile on her face; Willie Nelson and watching his music videos on YouTube or listening to him on Alexa (up to the end of her life, many times each day she would say “Alexa, play Willie,” and those three words would always bring on a song or series of songs by Willie).

What did Julie dislike: prejudice of any kind; loud people; hidden agendas; self-centered people; polluters; big gatherings; the spotlight; long flights; crowds; lies; loud noises; business matters.

What would I say to Julie if she were here: Thank you for being by my side for more than 60 years and being my companion, best friend, soul mate, cheerleader, lover, and confidant. Thank you for all you did--mentoring our family and friends, enhancing our life together, creating a happy home, keeping us both on an even keel. Thank you for your smiling face, your reassuring touch, your cheerful voice. I have been blessed since we met 63 years ago. Thank you for the little things you do--your thoughtful and inspirational notes (such as the one saying "they looked at each other with the future in their eyes"). When I rejoin you some day, may happiness together return and always be ours.

The essence of Julie is beautifully stated in a Valentine’s Day poem composed by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, Telluride, Colorado’s poet emeritus:

“For Julie

from George

She is a quiet love—

no spotlight, no clamor, no crowd,

and for her still beauty,

he loves her.

He loves the way she waits by the woods,

watching for what will emerge.

She loves whales, wildflowers and hummingbirds.

She loves red-tailed hawks,

and he loves her.

She is frugal, he laughs—

no patience for prejudice, polluters or lies—

but in love she is generous, honest and warm.

He sees the future in her gray blue eyes.

He loves her smile, her notes, her feet.

She's his cheerleader, soul mate, best friend.

And to please his bride of 40 years,

he says her name again and again and again,

Julie, Julie, Julie.

She is a playful love—

full of wonder, she lets the mystery be.

She loves holding hands, Mexico, movies at the theater,

She embodies loving,

and he loves her.”

Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

Valentine’s Day 2005

The family thanks Julie’s amazing caregivers, Sharon Serrano and Justa Sanchez, who stood by her side and loved her for so many years as her condition worsened, and her marvelous doctors at UT Health (Jason Schillerstrom, Neela Patel, Sudha Seshadri, and Leah Otto) and her personal physician for many years, Dr. Mark Thornton. We also thank her support team: Jennifer Becker (who gave her home massages), Connie Aguilar (who gave her manicures and pedicures at home), Edward Perez (Julie’s home physical therapist); Raul Marin (our gardener of 40+ years, who was so careful not to make loud noises with his equipment because Julie had superwoman hearing); Heart of Texas Hospice nurse Gilbert Cortez; and Heart of Texas Hospice Pastor Alvie Young from the Live Oak Baptist Church in New Braunfels. When Alvie arrived, Julie asked him if he sings, and Alvie spontaneously sang the Gospel Hymn “In the Garden,” with his fine baritone voice. Julie’s face lit up with a big smile.

The family will hold a private celebration of Julie’s life on a future date. In lieu of flowers, you can make a donation in Julie’s name to Communities in Schools of San Antonio (1045 Cheever Blvd., Suite 201, San Antonio, TX 78217); The Telluride Foundation (P.O. Box 4022, Telluride, CO 81435) or UT Health San Antonio (C/O Sabrina York, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MC 7835, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900)