Katherine Marie Parson

Katherine graduated from Silver Sands School in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. While living in Ft. Walton Beach, she participated in several programs sponsored by Horizons of Okaloosa County, now called the Arc of the Emerald Coast. She was remembered there as a sweet person, always happy and loving to everyone. She always enjoyed arts and crafts and socializing with friends. She also worked with a supported employment program, doing housekeeping at the Sandestin Hilton. She was an active participant in the Special Olympics and bowling was her sport. Katherine moved to Tallahassee with her mother in the year 2000 to be closer to her sister. She continued to enjoy bowling in Tallahassee as part of the WAVE program. In Tallahassee, she attended Adult Basic Education classes and attended Pyramid Studios. She was able to perform in several of the annual Pyramid plays at the Moon. Katherine loved dressing up and attending proms and dances with her friends. She enjoyed meeting new people and made friends easily. She enjoyed going to church and was a member of Advent Episcopal Church in Tallahassee. She was a devoted daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, great aunt and friend and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Myra Parson, and her father, Merlin Parson. She is survived by her sister, Kim Wear Verran, (Tommy); her brother, James Parson; her niece, Christy Merritt; her nephew, Kyle Merritt, her great niece, Lorelei Sanders-Merritt and her roommate and closest friend, Alison Evink. Katie’s family would like to thank all who have helped Katie over the years and especially Ronda Wiggins, her supported living coach.

Donations in Katherine’s memory can be made to the Everhart Excellence Foundation, 1203 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, FL 32303, Pyramid Studios of Tallahassee, 1910 Commonwealth Lane, Tallahassee, FL 32303 or The Arc of the Emerald Coast, 123 Truxton Avenue, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547.