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BORN
1948
DIED
2022
Joy Parkes Obituary
Cancer has taken another vibrant life with the passing of Joy Parkes at the Kamloops Hospice Home on June 9, 2022, just a few days short of her 74th birthday.
Joy was predeceased by her parents Clarence and Ivy Mackill, her brother Frank Mackill, and her sister-in-law Miriam McLean. She is survived by her brothers Don (Pat) Mackill and Bruce Mackill, husband Dick, son Dale (Alex) Parkes, daughters Holly (Murray) Lester and Jessica (Scott) Rouse, grandchildren Cole Parkes, Mya and Jordyn Lester, Kaylea Long, Austin and Levi Rouse, many cousins, BFF Janet Surline, and uncountable special friends.
Joy was born on June 22, 1948 at Kleena Kleene, once a very remote area of the Chilcotin, where her parents owned and operated a hunting and fishing lodge on One Eye Lake. When the lodge was sold the family moved to Riske Creek, then Alexis Creek and later to Puntzi Mountain where Joy's dad, Clarence, obtained a job working for the Puntzi air force base. In the mid fifties, Clarence transferred to the Mt. Lolo air force base so that the children could get a better education in Kamloops. Joy attended North Kamloops Elementary and then Norkam Secondary, with grade 11 in between at Kam High. Upon her graduation in 1966, Joy began working as a stenographer/bookkeeper at the Mt. Lolo base. Her high school graduation prom date was Dick Parkes and that was the beginning of a life-long partnership. Joy transferred to Immigration/Manpower in Vancouver in 1969 while Dick attended U.B.C. and they were married in Kamloops on August 22, 1970. In December 1971 they quit their jobs in Vancouver, drove across Canada in the middle of winter, and flew from Montreal to Munich for a five month tour of Europe. Upon their return, Joy obtained a job as the manager's secretary at the Bank of Montreal in Kamloops and eventually Dick was permanently hired by the City of Kamloops Planning Department.
As children started arriving in 1975, Dick and Joy bought their first, and only, house in Dallas and have been there ever since. Joy was a wonderful stay-at-home mom until their third child, Jessica, was in high school and then she went back to work at the Crisis Centre, then to Youth Resources and eventually retiring from a counselling office. Throughout the years Joy was active in Girl Guides, school activities, a "Stitch and Bitch" club, quilting groups, and as a volunteer at the RIH Thrift Seller for over 10 years. She was also a willing participant with her husband's involvement in the Vintage Car Club and the Rube Band, both of which included many trips around B.C., Alberta, the U.S. and even to Mexico and Hawaii. When in remission from her first bout with brain cancer, Joy treated the entire family to another memorable trip to Hawaii, which everyone will remember forever. Joy and Dick celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2020 at their summer cabins on Shuswap Lake, where almost every summer of those 50 years was happily spent with family and friends.
Joy will be remembered as a terrific loving wife, an exceptional mother and "Nana", and as a special friend to many. Her name exemplifies the joy she brought to almost everyone that came into her life.
A memorial service in Joy's honour will be held in the Mountain Room of the TRU Campus Activity Center at 1:00 pm, Friday, June 17, 2022. Interment at Hillside Cemetery will be held at 10:30 am, prior to the service. Joy loved her flower garden, and if you could bring a small bouquet from your own flower bed to add to a floral tribute, that would be a special gift.
The family would like to express our sincere thanks to the nurses and staff at the Kamloops Hospice Home, where Joy peacefully passed her final days, and to the Royal Inland Hospital, the Kelowna Cancer Clinic, Dr. B. Proctor, and Dr. J.F. Malan for their care and compassion.
Donations may be made in Joy's name to the Kamloops Hospice Association, the Canadian Cancer Society or the RIH Foundation.
Arrangements entrusted to Drake Cremation & Funeral Services.
Joy was predeceased by her parents Clarence and Ivy Mackill, her brother Frank Mackill, and her sister-in-law Miriam McLean. She is survived by her brothers Don (Pat) Mackill and Bruce Mackill, husband Dick, son Dale (Alex) Parkes, daughters Holly (Murray) Lester and Jessica (Scott) Rouse, grandchildren Cole Parkes, Mya and Jordyn Lester, Kaylea Long, Austin and Levi Rouse, many cousins, BFF Janet Surline, and uncountable special friends.
Joy was born on June 22, 1948 at Kleena Kleene, once a very remote area of the Chilcotin, where her parents owned and operated a hunting and fishing lodge on One Eye Lake. When the lodge was sold the family moved to Riske Creek, then Alexis Creek and later to Puntzi Mountain where Joy's dad, Clarence, obtained a job working for the Puntzi air force base. In the mid fifties, Clarence transferred to the Mt. Lolo air force base so that the children could get a better education in Kamloops. Joy attended North Kamloops Elementary and then Norkam Secondary, with grade 11 in between at Kam High. Upon her graduation in 1966, Joy began working as a stenographer/bookkeeper at the Mt. Lolo base. Her high school graduation prom date was Dick Parkes and that was the beginning of a life-long partnership. Joy transferred to Immigration/Manpower in Vancouver in 1969 while Dick attended U.B.C. and they were married in Kamloops on August 22, 1970. In December 1971 they quit their jobs in Vancouver, drove across Canada in the middle of winter, and flew from Montreal to Munich for a five month tour of Europe. Upon their return, Joy obtained a job as the manager's secretary at the Bank of Montreal in Kamloops and eventually Dick was permanently hired by the City of Kamloops Planning Department.
As children started arriving in 1975, Dick and Joy bought their first, and only, house in Dallas and have been there ever since. Joy was a wonderful stay-at-home mom until their third child, Jessica, was in high school and then she went back to work at the Crisis Centre, then to Youth Resources and eventually retiring from a counselling office. Throughout the years Joy was active in Girl Guides, school activities, a "Stitch and Bitch" club, quilting groups, and as a volunteer at the RIH Thrift Seller for over 10 years. She was also a willing participant with her husband's involvement in the Vintage Car Club and the Rube Band, both of which included many trips around B.C., Alberta, the U.S. and even to Mexico and Hawaii. When in remission from her first bout with brain cancer, Joy treated the entire family to another memorable trip to Hawaii, which everyone will remember forever. Joy and Dick celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2020 at their summer cabins on Shuswap Lake, where almost every summer of those 50 years was happily spent with family and friends.
Joy will be remembered as a terrific loving wife, an exceptional mother and "Nana", and as a special friend to many. Her name exemplifies the joy she brought to almost everyone that came into her life.
A memorial service in Joy's honour will be held in the Mountain Room of the TRU Campus Activity Center at 1:00 pm, Friday, June 17, 2022. Interment at Hillside Cemetery will be held at 10:30 am, prior to the service. Joy loved her flower garden, and if you could bring a small bouquet from your own flower bed to add to a floral tribute, that would be a special gift.
The family would like to express our sincere thanks to the nurses and staff at the Kamloops Hospice Home, where Joy peacefully passed her final days, and to the Royal Inland Hospital, the Kelowna Cancer Clinic, Dr. B. Proctor, and Dr. J.F. Malan for their care and compassion.
Donations may be made in Joy's name to the Kamloops Hospice Association, the Canadian Cancer Society or the RIH Foundation.
Arrangements entrusted to Drake Cremation & Funeral Services.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Kamloops This Week on Jun. 14, 2022.
Memories and Condolences
for Joy Parkes
3 Entries
Pam and Winston Darling. NZ
June 17, 2022
Our thoughts and love are with you all at this sad time.
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Julie Ottosen
June 17, 2022
Joy was indeed up to her name. The entire time I knew her she was a delight yo know. She will be missed.
Dawn and Dick Kruysifix
June 14, 2022
We are so sorry for your loss.
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