Marie Woods

Marie Cecelia Parker was born January 10, 1957 in Greensboro, North Carolina. She was the youngest child of Shirley Jeannette Tegg and Thomas Dilworth Parker, both of whom preceded her in death. She leaves behind her husband Michael Woods and two daughters, Amy and Christy, who reside in Sugar Land, Texas. She is also survived by her sister Diane Lahti and brother-in-law Bill of Raleigh, North Carolina; a niece Laura Lahti Sanders and nephew Will Lahti; and her brother Jim Parker and sister-in-law Betty of Wilmington, North Carolina. Her surviving aunts and uncles include Lucile Tegg of Raleigh, North Carolina and Mary Woodward and her husband T.P. Woodward of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Marie moved from Greensboro, North Carolina to Charlotte, North Carolina at the age of 4. She attended Montclaire Elementary and Smith Junior High, and graduated from Olympic High School June 1975. She was a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for two years and then transferred to Mercy Hospital School of Nursing to pursue a career in nursing. She became a registered nurse following her graduation from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in May 1982, with a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree.

Following graduation, she accompanied her mother on a trip to France to visit friends they had made through a foreign exchange student program. Marie’s mother was a French teacher and the trip that they made together was very meaningful to both of them. Upon their return, Marie worked in a local hospital and provided private duty nursing care for her mother which allowed her mother to remain at home during the final stages of cancer.

Marie continued working as a nurse in North Carolina for another two years, and then went to work for the Traveling Nurse Contract group where she traveled to at least seven different states including St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. She found it easy to make friends and loved experiencing life in both the largest urban areas and isolated rural communities.

One of her last traveling nurse assignments was in Houston, Texas where she met her husband Michael who was a Pharmacist in her assigned hospital. Mike and Marie were married on October 1, 1988 in an outdoor ceremony at Vargo’s Restaurant, Houston, Texas.

She worked in a doctor’s office for several years until the birth of her daughter Amy. Marie was delighted to become a full-time mother to Amy and Christy but continued to use her nursing skills on a volunteer basis. After her girls had entered school, Marie enrolled in further classes to become a Registered Massage Therapist.

Marie had enthusiasm for life. She loved family camping trips, photography, writing poetry, and helping others. She was creative, compassionate, and thoughtful. She was a supportive and loving friend, sister, mother, and wife.

Music was a large part of Marie’s life. There was always music playing at home and in the car. She enjoyed a wide variety of music from Christian Praise music to 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s Pop music. She had a special place in her heart for Carolina Beach Music. She also enjoyed playing board games with the family.

Marie was a devoted Christian telling people about Jesus Christ whenever she could, and always offered a kind word of encouragement. She was a Sunday School teacher for both daughters, attended Merry Ministries women’s Bible Study group, and was a Stephen Minister at Sugar Land First United Methodist Church. Marie also enjoyed volunteering her skills as a nurse and massage therapist whenever her health permitted.

Marie will be greatly missed, but we know she is dancing in Heaven with the angels.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Marie’s honor to Sugar Land First United Methodist Church (www.sugarlandmethodist.org; Address: 431 Eldridge Rd. Sugar Land, TX). or to the American Asthma Foundation (www.AmericanAsthmaFoundation.org/donate; Address: Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 3150, San Francisco, CA 94111-4113).