Verna Lee Parker
1933 – 2024
Verna Lee Parker peacefully reunited in heaven with her husband Jerald on November 14, 2024. A longtime resident of Edmond, Oklahoma, she was a devoted member of Memorial Road Church of Christ.
Born on December 20, 1933, in Ponca City, Oklahoma, to Frank Paul Hastings and Lela Fae Shaw Hastings, Verna Lee graduated from Ponca City High School in 1950. She married the love of her life, Jerald Parker, in 1952, following his service in the U.S. Army. Together, they began their journey in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where Verna Lee worked at the Stillwater Library while Jerald pursued his education at Oklahoma State University. Their family grew with the arrival of Ann Elizabeth in 1955 and Leslie Marie in 1957.
In 1960, the family returned to Stillwater after Jerald completed his PhD at Purdue University. During their time in Stillwater, Verna Lee supported Jerald’s career as an OSU faculty member and nurtured their growing family, welcoming sons Frank Hastings in 1961 and Thomas Grey in 1964. She juggled the responsibilities of a full house, caring for both her teenage kids and helping with the care of her grandchildren. Verna Lee also embraced entrepreneurship, co-founding “Uniquely Yours” to offer design services for bed and bath and dedicated her time as Assistant Director at The Sheltered Workshop, helping adults with special needs.
In 1988, Jerald and Verna Lee moved to Edmond, where Jerald played a key role in establishing the Engineering Department at Oklahoma Christian University. Verna Lee was an active member of a Memorial Road caregiver group as well as helping care for her grandchildren who lived there.
Verna Lee had a natural gift for connecting with those who needed love and support. Her kindness extended beyond her family, as she sought out opportunities to make others feel special. She found joy in shopping, card games, word puzzles, collecting camels, and entertaining guests. Her coconut cream pies were a family favorite and a testament to her talent in the kitchen.
Verna Lee was preceded in death by her husband, Jerald; her parents, Frank and Lela Fae; her sister, Jeronia Robey; her daughter, Beth; and her granddaughter, Piper Northen. She is survived by her sisters, Lela Marie Cash, Sharon Willis, Debi Taylor, Becky High; daughters, Ann Henson and Leslie Taylor; sons, Frank Parker and Thomas Parker; ten grandchildren; and fourteen great-grandchildren who will continue her legacy of love and faith.
In lieu of flowers, Verna Lee requested donations be made to the Jerald and Verna Lee Parker Engineering Scholarship at Oklahoma Christian University to honor her and Jerald’s commitment to education and service. You can make your donation online by clicking here.
Memorial services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at Matthews Funeral Home in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Verna Lee and Jerald were such special people. I came to k ow them through my husband,Kevin who loved them dearly. Verna always had a smile and a word of wisdom to share. She and Jerald were there at our wedding and Jerald took our first family picture at the hospital the day our son was born. Verna Lee will be missed but I know she was ready to meet her Savior. She lived a full life that blessed many and I am so blessed to have know her.
I have lots of fond memories of her and Jerold at the Stillwater church of Christ. I remember her being at the women’s Bible study. I went with my grandma to some of them. Special times and she was a beautiful, Christian lady
I loved it when Verna Lee and I would write cards and letters to each other. (That was a thing, back in the day.) My favorite part of the letters and cards was the very ending, when she wrote: Love You, Big Sis. (I would write the same, but wrote: Little Sis.)