Joyce Ann Parker

Joyce Ann Land Parker passed away on March 16, 2017. She was born June 11, 1943 in Waco, Texas. Joyce is preceded in death by her husband, Hal Parker; her daughter, Penny Renee Parker; and her parents, Thelma Ruth Smith Land and Elmer Douglas Land. She is survived by her son, John Douglas Parker; her sister Wanda Marie Land Baise and brother-in-law Charles Baise; her niece Theresa Ann Baise Gillaspie; her nephew Kristopher Baise; her daughter-in-law Becky Ann Paddock; and her granddaughter, Laura Elizabeth Parker Crowley.

Joyce graduated from Texas City High School, attended secretarial school in downtown Houston and went to work for NASA where she met Hal Parker, her husband of 40 years. Joyce was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Conroe. Her faith was an important part of her life. She retired from GMAC where she worked for 20 years as the Regional Customer Service Center Training Administrator.

Joyce was an artist with a love for anything she could create with her imagination and her hands. She was a life-long student and collector of crafts, and if she wasn't attending a class or working on a project, she was shopping for supplies. Her collection of arts and crafts items rivaled that of Hobby Lobby. Her theory was "if you might need one, it's safer to have 50." Her love of crafting over the years included painting, cake decorating, woodwork, needlepoint, cross stitch, rubber stamping, calligraphy, and so much more. But her true passion was quilting. She found much joy and spent countless hours designing, piecing and assembling a huge collection of quilts. Making and gifting quilts was her greatest demonstration of love and a family member didn't have a wedding, graduation or new baby without a quilt from Joyce to commemorate the occasion...sometimes late, (her son's baby blanket was gifted on his 30th birthday), but always delivered. Her pride and joy was a quilt made for her husband when, upon being diagnosed with a terminal illness, he asked for a quilt to honor his career at NASA. The result was a masterful patriotic tribute to Hal's long career that included original patches from every one of his space missions.

Whether it be for craft supplies - or anything else - Joyce was always ready to shop. She loved pretty clothes and was always perfectly coordinated from head to toe. And, she was a collector of shoes. Her son often teased her, calling her "Imelda Marcos" due to her shoe-buying habits. "Life is short, buy the shoes" was her motto and her closet was evidence of this in practice. Sadly, her son inherited the same shoe-buying habit.

In 2014, Joyce was diagnosed with dementia. Soon, the post-it notes no longer worked and routine tasks - including managing life as a Type I Diabetic - became too challenging. A move back to Houston and into the memory program at the Belmont Village Assisted Living community provided Joyce the stability and support structure to better manage life as memories rapidly disappeared.

In the last few months, as dementia robbed more and more of Joyce's memory, routine and structure became vital. Joyce relished the ritual of monthly mani/pedi Saturdays and blushed every time she was complimented on her famous French manicure - still perfect on the day she died. She was always eager for a shopping trip or a meal out on the town and consistently chose between bacon cheeseburgers, BBQ and cheese enchiladas. She was a simple Texas girl with Texas-girl tastes.

Most of all, Joyce was a devoted mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She was quiet, kind, generous, loving and faithful. Her legacy will live long through the beauty and stories told through her quilts. Her memory will be kept alive through the many people she influenced and her adoring son.