Clara Marie Parks

Clara was born August 9,1919 in Ben Davis, Missouri, she was the daughter of George Washington Young and Mary Jane (Murr) Young. Clara's mother died when she was three years old so she was raised by her

father who never remarried. Clara remembered her dad always taking the family to church.

When she first came to Washington, Clara worked with her sister Boots at Crabbie’s Cafe in

downtown Toppenish. Clara later worked at the Toppenish Hospital in the housekeeping department

eventually becoming head of that department.

Clara loved her family as well as her church family. She was one of the original members of the

Toppenish Grace Brethren Church which she faithfully attended for over 50 years. She was always busy

sewing and making crafts which she often gave away to her friends and family.

On April 12, 1947 Clara married Robert Earl Parks in The Dalles, Oregon. They had two daughters,

Linda May (Alan) Jackson and Earlene Marie (Jim) Beichler and a son, Gary Lee Parks.

Clara was preceded in death by her parents; her husband R. Earl Parks; her siblings Martha

Myers, Margaret Lyber, Pearl Reed, Clarence Young, Earn Young, Carl Young, George Young, James

Young, and Buelah Furman; her daughter Patsy Minear and son Gary Parks. She is survived by her

daughters Linda M.(Alan) Jackson of Cutler, Indiana, and Earlene M.(Jim) Beichler of Zillah, Washington,

a son Virgil Yarnall of Springfield, Missouri; her grandchildren, Janelle (Jimmy)Gish, Matthew Jackson,

Derek (Jamie) Jackson, Krista (Tim) Devoe , Amy(Jim) Desler ,Glenda Koontz, Lloyd Yarnall, Laura Yarnall,

Georgia Powell, James Minear, Dale Minear, Gary Minear, Myla Minear, and Terri Minear along with

numerous great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces.

A private family graveside service will be held at the Elmwood Cemetery in Toppenish. The

Celebration of Clara's life will be held on Thursday, October 30th, 2014 at the Toppenish Grace

Brethren Church, 507 Juniper Street, Toppenish Washington starting at 11:00 a.m. Reception to

follow.

We want to express our sincere thanks to the nurses and staff at the Good Samaritan Health Care and Heartlinks Hospice for their love and care of Clara. She loved all of you and we truly appreciate all that you did for her. Merritt Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.

Arrangements under the direction of Merritt Funeral Home, Wapato, WA.