Barbara "Barbie" June Parker

Barbara “Barbie” June Knight Parker, age 81, of Jefferson Park at Dandridge, was born at home in the Talbott community of Jefferson County on June 27, 1944 and passed into everlasting life on November 19, 2025 into the loving arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ, whom she had accepted into her heart at the age of fifteen years old. She was proceeded in death by her husband Robert “Bob” Parker; parents, Clarence Leon and Grace Lou (Breeden) Knight; still-born sister, Mary Knight; still-born twin sisters, Maude and Mattie Knight; sister, and brother in law, Louise (Knight) and Coy Alexander Hopkins; father and mother in law, Clarence “Buck” and Betty Grace (Irwin) Parker, and brother in law, Larry Joe Parker. Left to cherish her memory and to miss her spunky personality and attitude are her nephew and nieces, Stephen (Aundrea) Hopkins, Elizabeth “Libby” (Hopkins) Beaver, Rosemary (Hopkins)(Michael) Watkins all of Talbott and Katherine (Hopkins)(Michael) Utter of White Pine; great nephew and nieces, Daniel (Kaitlyn) Watkins, Moriah (Beaver) (Logan) Reabuck, Melody Beaver, Allison (Hopkins) (Jacob) Bellissimo, Katey (Hopkins) (Daniel) Rossie all of Talbott, and Lauren Watkins of Jefferson City; great-great nephews and nieces, Mattie, Bennett, William, John Bellissimo, Grant and Nathan Rossie, Archer Watkins, and Adeline Reabuck all of Talbott. Also left to cherish her memory is her first cousin, Carolyn Ann (Begley) West of Talbott and also her fellow residents and special friends, Janice Arwood and Margaret Thompson who would watch television, mostly westerns with her everyday and childhood family friend, Douglas Hopkins. Barbie graduated from Morristown High School, now known as Morristown East High school in 1962. She then immediately enrolled into the nursing program at Morristown Vocational school where she graduated as a licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in February of 1963. Immediately upon passing the Tennessee State board exam and obtaining her license she was hired at Jefferson Memorial Hospital. There she met her husband Bob in 1964. After several years she then went to work for Morristown Hamblen Hospital. While employed there she and Bob married on November 29, 1968. Soon thereafter the couple moved to Florida where she work at Fort Pierce Memorial Hospital and then as the clinic nurse for the Florida School for Boys in Okeechobee. In 1970 she and Bob moved back to Tennessee and settled in Lake City, now known as Rocky Top, where she worked at Lake City Hospital. In 1976 the couple moved back to Florida, this time settling in Williston where they remained until retirement. She worked at Alachua General Hospital near Gainesville for a short period of time before going to work for Williston Memorial Hospital, now known as Nature Coast Regional Hospital, where she remained for many years. During this time, she also attended Santa Fe Community College and Central Florida Community College. When she was in her mid-fifties, she was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease. Realizing that she needed a less physically demanding job, she then went to work for a local nursing home, Oakview Regional Care Center, now known as Williston Healthcare center. She continued to work until 2005 when the physical effects of the disease just made it too difficult for her to continue with her much-loved nursing duties. She retired with forty-two continuous years of dedicated service to her patients. Soon after retirement, she and Bob moved back home to Jefferson County to be near family. She enjoyed many years of reading, scrapbooking, working puzzles, but most importantly, enjoying special times with family and friends. The family wants to sincerely thank all the staff at Jefferson Park at Dandridge, especially the ones who brought their children by to visit with her. Barbie especially delighted with their babies and the little ones who would gift her with colorings and other small, sweet gifts. The family would also like to thank the staff at Smokey Mountain Home Health and Hospice who became like family to her throughout the years. A graveside service will be held Friday, November 21, 2025 at Sartain Springs Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery at 3:00pm with Pastor Roger Porter officiating and also Moriah (Beaver) Reabuck, RN will present the Florence Nightingale Nursing Tribute.

ARRANGMENTS BY FARRAR FUNERAL HOME, DANDRIDGE, TN 865-397-2711