Marlene Parker

Marlene Parker passed away on Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 at her home, surrounded by her family at the age of 89. Marlene was born in Syracuse, NY to the late Howard Martin and Vera Pearl Haire Jamieson. Shortly after, when she was two years old, Marlene's family moved to Tampa, FL. It was in Florida, on a trip to Dunnellon that Marlene met Joseph R. Parker, Jr. Upon returning to Tampa, she told her family, "I just met the man I'm going to marry!" After graduating from Plant High School, and attending one year of nursing school at the University of Tampa, they did just that. Marlene and Joe were married on July 11, 1953. Two children soon followed, Rick in 1954, and Linda in 1955. After Joe graduated from the University of Florida in 1959, the young family moved to Tullahoma, TN which would be their home for the next 65 years. The loss of their daughter Linda in 1964 was a challenging time, but Marlene embraced the birth of their second daughter, Brenda in 1965. Marlene enjoyed being a homemaker, and many hours were spent cooking, sewing clothes for her children, attending church at Highland Baptist Church, bowling, square dancing, bridge parties, and hosting get togethers for their neighbors in Lake Hills. As her children grew older, Marlene began working at Western Corral, and Master of Ceremonies. She loved helping customers, and was eventually asked to manage the store. Instead, she chose to fulfill her dream of opening an antique store, and "Keepsakes" was soon open for business, with Joe by her side. This business venture, along with their Airstream brought many years of fun and memories, traveling to visit family, and making new friends. In addition to her parents, and daughter, Linda, Marlene was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joseph R. Parker, Jr.; one brother, Jamie Jamieson; one sister, Sarah Smith; and two grandchildren, Ryan and Aubrey Parker. She is survived by her son, Rick Parker (Susan); daughter, Brenda Hunter (Dan); sister, Beverly King (Bob); four grandchildren, Joseph Parker (Elizabeth), Thomas Parker (Sarah), Sydney Hunter, and Nicholas Hunter; and three great-grandchildren, Samuel, Warren, and Hazel Parker. Visitation for Mrs. Parker will be held on Saturday, March 23rd, 2024 from 11:00am – 12:30pm at Kilgore Funeral Home. A graveside service will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens with Pastors Jim Norman, and Don Dixon officiating. Marlene will be remembered by all who loved her for her love of the color lavender, antiques, dressing for the occasion, and dolls - but most importantly, her love of her family, which trumped everything. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Marlene's memory be made to either Highland Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1195, Tullahoma, Tennessee 37388; or The Special Olympics, 461 Craighead Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37204 with an emphasis on the Area 4 program.
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