Juanita ‘Nita’ Parker Ryan of San Antonio passed away Sunday, May 13, 2012, at the age of 87. She was born in Kimble County on December 21, 1924, to Sam and Winnie Parker and grew up in the Texas Hill Country. Nita began her education in the one-room schoolhouse in Knoxville until it closed. She was transferred to the Harper Public School and completed her studies at Harper High in 1942.
Preceding her in death were her parents; two sisters, DeVoe Jackson and Gladiolus Oestreich; three brothers, Clayton Parker, Dubois Parker and Roscoe Parker; two half sisters, Lula Roberts and Myrtle McDougal; and two half brothers, Orrin Parker and Eber Parker. Also three husbands, Gilbert Steitle; Bill Monroe; and Lamar Ryan.
She is survived by her two daughters, Karen Steitle Gibson of Spring Branch and Donna Steitle Sieber of Boerne; two step daughters, Lesta Ryan Trachta, and husband Mel of San Antonio and Patti Ryan Chisolm, and husband J.B of Luling; one granddaughter, Amy Chisolm Clements, and husband Raymond of Luling; and six grandsons, Mark Migl, Christopher Migl, both of Spring Branch, Dylan Sieber and wife Julie of Fort Worth, Cade Rensmeyer and wife Ruthie of San Antonio, Ryan Chisolm and wife Jutta; and John Chisolm II, all of Luling. Also, six great-grandchildren, Rhea and David Migl Schaller; Johnny and Viviane Chisolm; and Ryan and Kira Rensmeyer; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Nita cherished the people in her life; her family, life-long friends and those she considered extended family while living at The Madison Retirement Community. She could turn a small gathering of friends into an all night party and loved all social events, especially if there was a dance floor, claiming she had “Waltzed Across Texas” many-a-time.
There is evidence that her claim is pretty near true. In 1936, Nita started keeping a diary. Every evening she would write little tidbits about her day, “Went to school; studied for a test; played in the creek; was lonesome today cause nobody came to visit; didn’t do nothing today.” For the next couple of years, Nita wrote more about visits from family or friends, chasing (and catching) squirrels, and going to school. Then, catching tadpoles was replaced with making dates, breaking dates, playing hooky from school and something referred to as “boodling”!?! From her entries during 1940 to 1942, she and her friends never missed a dance nor a movie, and almost every night they traveled the roads from Harper to Fredericksburg to Kerrville , gathering at places like Scripps, Carter’s Tavern and Peter’s Hall and dancing to Adolf Hoffner and the Texas Playboys.
Then on January 30, 1941, after a movie in Kerrville , she and her date went to Fredericksburg . The diary entry reads, “met the cutest boy, Gilly Steitle” and later she wrote “he sure can dance”. They were married December 21, 1942, just two days before he left for the Army. Nita finished school, and while Gilly served his country, she went to work at Randolph AFB and later to Washington DC and worked in the Pentagon. The war ended and they settled in San Antonio , to raise their family. Gilly passed away on Dec. 1, 1966. Nita had become a wonderful homemaker and seamstress, and for 15 years, honed her skills as a bookkeeper and office manager at The Trophy House.
Two years later, she married her boss, Bill Monroe. She weathered the turbulence of Bill’s twin-engine Cessna for a while, then divorced in 1971. Bill died in 1974, a week after suffering severe burns when his plane crashed shortly after taking off.
In 1973, she married Lamar Ryan and yes, Nita continued to dance, as well as becoming a real estate agent. She also discovered a talent for growing and arranging beautiful flowers. She and Lamar loved to travel, hitting the road with their travel trailer every chance they got. However, Nita’s traveling became more of a quest in search of other Parkers. Inspired by her Aunt Modelle (Mrs. Walter Parker) she set out to uncover every birth, death, and marriage certificate, census records, deeds and letters necessary to compile a historical record of Parker ancestors. Along this journey, she made a host of new friends and discovered family she didn’t know existed. She completed and published her book ‘7 Generations – The William Parker Family’ in 1990. She considered this one of her greatest accomplishments, made even more special by the appreciation extended her by the Parker family.
Juanita ‘Nita’ Parker Steitle Monroe Ryan, stood her ground against growing old gracefully, if someone told her she “can’t” -- she would prove she “can”, and if given the choice to sit it out or dance, you can bet she was the first on the dance floor. Juanita ‘Nita’ Parker Steitle Monroe Ryan, stood her ground against growing old gracefully, if someone told her she “can’t” -- she would prove she “can”, and if given the choice to sit it out or dance, you can bet she was the first on the dance floor.
Her lively sense of humor and spirited independence will be remembered by all who knew her and she will be missed.
The family extends a very special thank you to all of the staff at Cibolo Creek Nursing Home in Boerne. The gentleness in which she was cared for and the genuine concern to make her comfortable is very much appreciated.
Sunset Memorial Park and Funeral Home in San Antonio held visitation Thursday, May 17, from 6 to 8 pm, with funeral services and interment, on Friday, May 18, at 11:30 am, At Sunset Funeral Home.
Arrangements by Sunset Memorial Park and Funeral Home of San Antonio .
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