Marcia Kay Parker

Posted on March 29, 2024

Marcia Kay Parker, age 77, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on March 26, 2024, in Gainesville, Florida. Marcia was born on June 21, 1946, in Butler, PA, to Russell and Gertrude Andrews. 

She graduated from Mars Area High School in 1964 and began raising her family in 1966. In 1974, while raising her three children, she was one of the

very first women hired into the Pittsburg area steel mills. Due to her strong work ethic and dedication, she earned the respect of her fellow steelworkers, which was quite an accomplishment for a young single mother in the 1970s. In 1985, she relocated her family to Perry, Florida, where she met the love of her life, Melvin Parker while working together at Buckeye Cellulose, and they married in 1991. Soon after they built their dream home on Cedar Island, where they created a lifetime of memories with their children and grandchildren, neighbors, and a slew of good friends.

After retirement, Marcia and her close friend Wendy Johnson established the Sandy Toes Red Hats, where she was the Queen for 18 years. She had a true passion for serving others. Just this past February, she passed her crown to a new Queen, Debra McGrew, and Vice-queen, Cookie Workman; they certainly have big hats to fill!

She was an active member of Lake Bird Methodist Church where she enjoyed

fellowship and worshiping the Lord. Marcia never met a stranger and was loved by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Gertrude Andrews, her sisters Patricia Brown and Gail Wagner, a stepson, Paul Parker, and a great-granddaughter, Trinity.

She is survived by her husband of 33 years, Melvin Parker, her children Lauren (Strip) Lilliott, Wayne (Debbie) Harrier, Traci (Kevin) Harrier, Tracy (Sid) Hill, and Preston (Alison) Parker, her grandchildren Jade (Shane) Owens, Kaylea (Vince) Yates, Caroline Lilliott, Meagan (Shawn) Lax, Andrew (Hannah) Hill, and great-grandson Karlee, and a host of very loved nieces and nephews.

Marcia enjoyed living life to the fullest. Her favorite hobbies include fishing, thrift-

shopping, arts & and crafts, and traveling; she especially enjoyed Biloxi, MS. But most of all, what she truly loved more than anything was spending time with her family and friends.

Her Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, April 1, 2024, at 2:00 PM at Joe P. Burns Funeral Home of Perry, with graveside to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service.

In Lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to:

St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital

501 St Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105