Barbara "Barb" Luverne Parker

A funeral service for Barbara Luverne "Barb" Parker will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 8, 2017, at the funeral home.  The family will greet friends at the funeral home following the service.  She will be buried next to her husband, Shorty, at Newton Union Cemetery.  Memorials in Barb's name can be left at the funeral home.

Barbara Luverne “Barb” Parker died peacefully in her home on Monday, October 30, 2017 in Edgewood, NM at the age of 90.

Barbara is survived by her daughter, Debbie; her son, Roy Charles and wife, Kathleen; and her granddaughter, Madelynn Parker; her grandson, Micah Parker and wife, Sarena; her great grandchildren, Amaya and Noah; and many other family and friends.

Barb was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Roy “Shorty” Parker; her son, Edward Allen; and her brothers, Richard, Stewart, and Edward.

Barbara was born in Springdale, Iowa to Helen and Robert Mather. She graduated from Springdale High in 1945, went on to Penn College, and married the love of her life, Roy “Shorty” Parker in 1946. They farmed in Bussey and had their three children, Edward Allen, Roy Charles, and Debbie; later moving to Newton, where Shorty worked for Maytag and Barb continued to raise their children and work for several local businesses. After moving to Des Moines, Barb took a position with the phone company, “Ma Bell” as an administrative assistant working for twenty years until she retired. Shortly after retiring, Barb, Shorty and Debbie became full time campers, traveling the country and attending camping conventions as well as the Iowa State Fair in their Winnebago RV. By 2011 the family settled in Edgewood, New Mexico, to be close to their son.

Barb was an active member of the Moose Lodge, several camping clubs and attended the Ivy Methodist Church. She kept up her interest in the world by reading the paper daily for as long as she was able, and enjoyed discussing current events. Barb enjoyed dancing with her husband and had a great love of gospel, bluegrass, and country music. Her family remembers her love of cooking and trying new recipes from her cookbook collection. Barb’s specialty was her homemade oatmeal bread, now being made by her daughter, Debbie. 

​The family would like to express a special thanks to the individuals from Kindred Hospice for their care and kindness to Mrs. Parker.

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