Nancy was born in 1963 in Bruce, Mississippi. At age one, she moved with her family to Starkville when her father accepted a coaching job there. Nancy attended the Starkville Public Schools and enjoyed cheering for the SHS Yellow Jackets at football and basketball games for many years.
Upon finishing school, she worked as a teacher’s assistant, first with the First United Methodist Church’s Developmental Disabilities class and later at Sudduth Elementary. She retired in 1994.
Nancy enjoyed many hobbies, including making potholders, doing seek-a-word puzzles and 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles, listening to country music, and checking out gardening books from the Starkville Public Library. For many years she attended a special summer camp at Lake Tik-A-Witha, first as a camper and later as a counselor.
Her bright red hair and happy spirit will be remembered by those who knew her.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel Harris Parker and Ruth Barkemeyer Parker, paternal grandparents, John Jacob “Buddy” Parker and Clara Philpot Parker, and her maternal grandparents Emil Barkemeyer and Arlin Mullins Barkemeyer.
She is survived by her brother Tommy Parker, her sister and long-time caregiver Lynn Parker, and fraternal twin, Laurie Parker, all of Starkville.
A private graveside service was held on February 2nd at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Starkville.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Starkville Public Library, 326 University Drive, Starkville, MS 39759 or St Jude’s Research Center, 501 St. Jude’s Place Memphis, TN 38105.
