Kay Danita Parker

Kay Dunagan Parker was a child of Houston and a daughter of Texas and that identity was important to her. She was the only child of Everett Dunagan and Kittie Whitaker Dunagan. She was born in Houston and spent her first few years in a house her parents built on Truxillo Street in Third Ward. They eventually moved to the “country”—a small farm on Brittmoore Road in the Spring Branch area. She attended SBISD schools and was a proud graduate of Spring Branch High School, maintaining close ties to her many friends in the Class of 1956. Kay grew up attending Bethany Christian Church on Westhiemer Road, where her parents were founding members, and was a life-long Disciples of Christ congregant.

Kay married her high school sweetheart during her senior year, but two years and two babies later she was a divorcee living with her parents again. While her mother watched the kids, she started over by putting herself through the University of Houston.

Between classes, Kay would drop into the student center to play bridge. One day a class cancelled and she sat in to play at an earlier time than usual. She found herself partnered with a young army vet. He quickly asked her out, and they began dating. Kay married Ivy Leslie (Les) Parker, of Houston’s Lindale neighborhood. They immediately became a family of four, with Kay’s daughters Annise and Alison.

In 1961, Kay graduated from UH and they bought a small house on 1/2 acre on Laverne Street in Spring Branch. Kay worked as a bookkeeper for IX company, and later Teledyne Exploration. The house was filled with books and board games. Sports were treasured family activities. Kay and Les bowled, square danced and became Shriners as a couple. They were active community volunteers all their lives. They acquired the first of many beloved cats and dogs. They hoped to add to their family, but son Daniel Albert Parker, named for his grandfathers, died during childbirth in March of 1963.

In 1967 the family started a new adventure and moved to Biloxi, MS as Les followed a dream of owning his own business. Wick’s Fishing Camp, near Popps Ferry Bridge, was a new and exciting challenge as they learned to live on the water and operate small boats, sell bait and tackle and clean fish. Unfortunately, after a short time, a barge accident knocked out road access to Wick’s and rebuilding would take the state years. Commuting by motor boat was fun for the kids, but Les and Kay soon realized the business was lost, along with all their savings. They set up a payment plan with their creditors and started over, Les taking a job as a security guard at Keesler AFB to get by. There he connected with the American Red Cross Service to Armed Forces staffer and a new chapter began.

Les joined and would work for the ARCSAF for the next 20 years. Kay and kids followed him to assignment at an air force base in Charleston, SC; returned to Houston while Les spent 18 months in Viet Nam during the war; followed him to an Army base in Mannheim, Germany for 2 years; then returned to Charleston and the naval base for several years. Charleston is where both girls graduated high school and moved on in their lives.

During their first time living in Charleston, the family had joined First Christian Church, a source of comfort and friendship that centered their lives. Now empty nesters, Kay and Les lived their values and opened their home to a Vietnamese refugee family of four—the Vu’s becoming lifelong friends—and later also hosted a Cambodian refugee. Kay stayed in Charleston alone while Les did a year’s tour in Okinawa. Les was then transferred to Vicenza, Italy, where he and Kay lived for 5 years. The two European duty tours were wonderful adventures, as the family explored and toured as widely as they could.

Les was next transferred to Parris Island Marine Recruit Depot in Beaufort, SC, which brought Kay back to the Low Country and a home overlooking the marshes. Sadly, Les died suddenly of a heart attack in 1988 and Kay had to start over yet again as a widow at 50.

Kay bought a house in Charleston and moved there for the third time, welcomed by friends who had become family. She worked various admin and bookkeeping jobs. She entered into leadership roles at First Christian Church and became active in Beta Sigma Phi sorority. She enjoyed cruises and foreign travel. Alison and her family were a few hours drive away near Augusta and Kay was able to see her grandchildren and great grandchildren frequently.

After years of living alone and in declining health, in 2017 Kay’s daughters asked her to move closer to one of them, either GA or TX. She decided to come back to Houston, enjoying living in a high-rise condo with a view of downtown close to Annise and her family. She rejoined Bethany Christian Church and delighted in showing visitors her name on the founder’s plaque as the first girl baptized in the congregation.

Her last 3 years were spent in the good care of the Assisted Living Staff at the Village of River Oaks.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Everett Dunagan of Red Rock, OK and Kittie Whitaker of Nacogdoches, TX, and by her husband, Les Parker of Houston, TX. She is survived by daughter Annise Parker and wife Kathy Hubbard of Houston and their children, Jovon Tyler, Daniela Parker, Sherry Allen and Marquitta Parker (Elizabeth). She is also survived by daughter Alison Strang and husband Paul Strang of Harlem, GA and their children Eric Strang, April Trussell (Walter), Evan Strang (Kelsey) and Ethan Strang. She is survived by numerous great grandchildren as well.

Services will be held at First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Charleston, SC at a later date.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.chapelofeternalpeace.com for the PARKER family.