Thelma D Parks

Thelma Parks was born Thelma Drucilla Treadway on September 20, 1919, on Ivy Chapel Road in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde, her firstborn child, Dickie, and her brothers, Roy, Cleo, and Troy and her sisters, Inez Cole and Ida Jo Taylor. She is survived by her sons, Jack and Jerry, and her daughter, Jean Peterson, her grandchildren, Jeff, Darin, Eric, Tracy, and Christopher, her great grandchildren, Jennifer, Ashley, Madison and Demetri and her great great grandsons, Riley and Brady. Thelma grew up on her family's farm. It was by no means a life of ease, but they managed to find plenty of time for fun and yes, even mischief. Even in her later years, she still took delight in remembering some of her and her brother Skeet's antics. They all lived through the Great Depression, but in later years she would say the only difference was that more people became as poor as they had always been. Her life centered around the farm and Church, where her father preached, and where her strong alto voice joined in singing the beloved old hymns and gospel songs. She never lost her love of those songs., even when her memory had failed, she could still join in when one of the old, familiar songs was being sung. On January 15, 1938, Thelma married Clyde Parks, who lived on a neighboring farm. They had four children, Dickie (who died in infancy), Jack, Jean and Jerry. They moved to California in 1945, where Clyde found a job with the Pacific Fruit Express. they rented several homes in Citrus Heights. Then in 1952, they bough a house in Roseville, which was alarming for Thelma. She didn't know how they would be able to make that $72.00 payment every month. Thelma's life revolved around her home and family. Her occupation was homemaker, and that was what she wanted to do. She took satisfaction in keeping her house spotless and her family well fed. She was known for her "Arkie" cooking, especially her mouth watering biscuits and gravy and marconi and cheese. (but you had to be on guard on April's Fool's day, when she was known to have added a cotton ball inside the biscuits.

In the early 50's when Jack started playing Little League Baseball, Thelma became an "enthusiastic" fan. She and Clyde went to all the games.Then later, it was basketball and Football, and then Jerry's basketball games, and then the Grandson's games. In 1994, her beloved husband of 56 years died, leaving her to live alone for the first time in her life. Her determination overcame her fear of living alone, which she did until august of 2003, when her memory failed to the point that it became necessary for her to live with her daughter and son-in-law. In April of 2005, her decling health necessitated moving into roseville care Skilled Nursing. Thelma's children would like to Thank Maxine Kaplan, a dear cousin, who provided loving respite care to Thelma for a year and a half, and also the staff at Roseville Gardens and Roseville Care Center for the care they provided.Friends and family are welcome for visitation on Tuesday April 26th from 4-7 P.M. at Lambert Funeral Home, 400 Douglas Blvd, Roseville,CA. Graveside Services will be held on Wednesday April 27th at 11:00 A.M. at Roseville District Cemetery 421 Berry St, Roseville,CA.