Ila Mae Parks

Ila Mae Parks, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on October 23, 2024, surrounded by her family. She was born on September 19, 1933, in Mount Leonard, Missouri, to Burmel Olmstead and Irene (Mueller) Olmstead.

On June 18, 1949, Ila Mae married the love of her life, James “Jim” Willis Parks. Together, they built a family and a life rooted in love, hard work, and cherished traditions. A year after their wedding, they welcomed the first of five children, and in 1955, they made their home in Kansas City, Missouri. Jim and Ila Mae shared 74 wonderful years of marriage until his passing in 2023.

Ila Mae had a gift for finding joy in the simple things. She spent countless happy hours in her garden, tending to flowers and vegetables, her hands always connected to the earth. Fishing was another of her favorite pastimes, and she treasured time spent on the water, casting lines, and sharing stories with family. Her gentle spirit and deep love of nature left an enduring legacy for all who knew her.

She is survived by her children: Linda Gale Jarman and her husband Obie, Carol Lee Parks, Ila Marie Smith, Roger Dale Parks and his wife Terry, and William “Bill” Edwin Parks and his wife Debra; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Parks; her parents; her brother, David Olmstead; and her grandson, Sheldon Cain Parks.

A celebration of Ila Mae’s life will be held at Terrace Park Cemetery, Lakeside Chapel, on Tuesday, October 29th. Visitation will take place from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, followed by service at 11AM with burial at Terrace Park. A private family gathering will be held afterward.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation in honor of Ila Mae’s memory and in hopes of a brighter future for those living with the disease.