Beverly May Parker, 92, who called Sun City West, Arizona her home for more than 35 years passed away on November 19, 2018, at the Grandview Care Center in Sun City West. She was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years, Gerald, in October 2017, and is survived by her loving daughter, Judy Parker, of Alexandria, Virginia. Also surviving are sister Joan Morlock of Batavia, Illinois; a brother-in-law, two sisters-in-law, generations of nieces, nephews and their families; and countless friends across the country.
For every room Beverly entered, her laughter filled the walls with warmth, caring and affection. She was the wife devoted to her husband, the loving, proud mother to her daughter, the sister and aunt who never forgot a birthday or anniversary, the friend who wrote numerous greeting cards, notes and letters, the treasure who always filled her photo albums with favorite shots and lovingly made gift albums for celebrants of special birthdays or graduations. In later years she lovingly packaged selections of old photos from her voluminous collection and sent them to those pictured or their family members.
Beverly was born December 13, 1925, in Aurora, Illinois, the first of four daughters of Joseph and Lillian Worrell. Beverly and Gerald grew up in the same neighborhood and attended the same schools. Gerald enlisted in the Army after he graduated in 1940. He was dropping paratroops in France earlier in the day that Beverly graduated from the same high school on June 6, 1944. When Gerald returned from overseas in January 1945, they were engaged and were fortunate to celebrate 72 years of marriage on March 25, 2017.
Beverly had a busy life making a home for her husband and daughter, first in Oak Lawn, Illinois for 12 years and then across the U.S. as they moved for Gerald’s positions with the Federal Aviation Administration, from the Chicago area, to Fairfax, Virginia (twice), to Aurora, Colorado (twice), to Federal Way, Washington. Beverly often became close friends with neighbors and remained friends after someone moved away. She was involved in various volunteer activities as well as the church, often utilizing her flower arranging ability. She helped at Judy’s schools, Brownies, Girls Scouts, and the like. After taking Judy to college in North Carolina, Beverly and Gerald packed up their Virginia home and moved to Colorado in 1965. It was at that time Beverly “reinvented” herself. She was still active in the neighborhood, community, and church, but she had new-found time to enroll in art classes. Her paintings eventually filled the walls of their homes and many were painted as gifts for friends and family. Additionally, she had more time to develop and enjoy her enthusiasm for golf, a passion she and Gerald shared.
The love for sunshine and nice weather brought them to a condominium in Sun City West, when it was early in its development in 1979, and 8 years later moved to a detached home not far from the condo. She and Gerald called Arizona home during the winters while traveling the U.S. in their motor home the rest of the year. For almost 35 summers they crisscrossed the nation to visit family and friends, discover new sights, and rediscover familiar ones and, as Gerald drove, Beverly wrote the countless cards and letters her family and friends will treasure always.
She will be remembered for her beautiful laugh and smile, her loving heart, her optimistic view of the world, and her belief in the goodness of people. Beverly always put others first, making every person she met feel special.
A private committal service for Beverly will be held Monday, December 3, 2018 at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City. Following the committal service will be a public Celebration of Life at 2:00 P.M. at Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church, 13658 W. Meeker Blvd., Sun City West, AZ 85375
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Beverly’s name to Alzheimer’s Disease Research or to a favorite charity.
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