Marie E Parker

Mama was born Marie Elena Helmon on November 24, 1942, in Excelsior Springs MO, to Alfred V. Helmon & Louella Allen. Her mother passed away when Mom was only 6 years old. She was raised by her Grandmother Anna Mary Price and her Aunts. One special Aunt was Dora Ann Edwards or “Doot” as they called her. She grew up in Excelsior Springs. As a young girl, Mom enjoyed playing down by the creek and singing in the choir at church. She accepted Christ in her life at a young age and was baptized at Main Street Baptist Church. She graduated from Excelsior Springs High School in 1960. She was a member of the Glee Club, Drama Club, Chorus and played Flag Football (we were all surprised by that one). Mom was also nominated as best dressed (no one was surprised by that one).

Soon after high school, she married Lee Timmons Sr. Together they had two children, Daphne (Vickie) and Lee Timmons Jr.  Although the marriage did not last, her connections with the family did. William and Mary Timmons welcomed Mom with open arms, along with Rosa, John Henery, and H. L. Timmons.

In 1966, Mama began work at Western Electric (which later became AT&T). Mom was always a HARD worker. As a single mother of two she purchased her first house. With her love for her family along with her love for decorating, she made it a home. Mom made many lifelong friends at Western. She would spend hours talking on the phone to Oteria McDaniels and Twila Gates or spend a whole morning in the middle of a field picking greens with Juanita Henson. Every year she enjoyed going to the Ebony Fashion Show with Evora Sanders and Grace Nichols. All of her friends affectionately referred to her as “Mousy”. We could always tell how long someone knew Mom by the name they called her.

To further her career, Mom attended Longview and Penn Valley Community Colleges.  She was promoted into management. Through outreach programs facilitated by W.E. Mom taught Junior Achievement courses in the Kansas City, Missouri Public School District. She was also an active member of AT&T Sharing Jesus (A group of AT&T employees that went from church to church sharing the love of Jesus). She remained at AT&T for 23 years.

Her greatest friendship she established at Western Electric was with her husband of 48 years, Eugene H. Parker Jr. They married on November 6, 1976, at Progressive Baptist Church by Rev. A.M. Hudson. She became the bonus Mom to Dwayne, Tim, Lance Parker and Lamont Edwards. Together they had one child, Stephanie Parker (Randle). She was an active member of Progressive for several years. She was a, faithful member of the choir, secretary of Sunday School, president of the Deaconess Board, and for a time, taught Vacation Bible School. She believed in tithing and giving of your time and talent.

Marie and Eugene later joined Second Missionary Baptist Church under the direction of Rev. Dr. Donald D. Ford. Mama enjoyed working in the kitchen ministry, alongside her husband and she was active in bible study and Sunday School. But what she enjoyed the most was being a core member of Pastoral Support. She and “Her Girl” Kathy Jones spent countless time on the phone planning and shopping for their ministry. She always had a kind word for a young mother and spare change for kids to use the vending machine.

Mom started at Sunshine Biscuits in 1990. She headed numerous fundraising drives for March of Dimes while at Sunshine. She sold chili and collected donations for walking the 5K.  She and Georgia Rainey could often be found racing out of work to the nearest shoe sale. Once they even tiptoed out of church to hit up a sale at Sacks 5th Avenue.

Around 2002 Marie started what she called, “The Best Job of Her Life”. She started as a bus aide for the Lee’s Summit School District Bus Barn.  Marie worked with children with disabilities, helping them get on and off the bus. They all called her “Grandma”. She enjoyed giving them hugs and hearing all about their day.

In our time with Mama, she taught us many things. “The way to keep good friends is to be a good friend”. “If you are going to do it, you might as well, do it right”.  When we acted up, she showed us that ‘fat meat is indeed greasy”. And when we thought we were grown, she reminded us that we don’t have a “pot to pee in nor a window to throw it out of”. She frequently let us know that she was “not one of our little friends”. We love you Mama the Most!  Mos, Mos, Mos, Mos, Mos, Mos, Most!

Mama was known by many names. “Marie", “Mom”, “Mama", “Mommy”, “Mousy” (A nickname she acquired as a young girl and grew to love), “Sis”, “Granny”, “Grammy”, “Grandma”, “Mamaw”, “Nanny”, “Nanna”, and “Aunt Marie”. But her greatest name was “Daughter”. God called his daughter home on Friday May 9th, 2025. She was at home with her husband and children (just as she wanted).

She was proceeded in death by both of her parents, Anna M. Price (grandmother), Anna Cathrine Ewing (sister), Tyrone, Alfred Jr., Thomas “Tommy” Helmon, Lon “Skipper” Allen (brothers), and one special grandchild, Anastacia Marie Timmons.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 48 years, Eugene H. Parker Jr. Her stepmother, Elenor Helmon of Denver, Colorado.  Two daughters, Daphne Timmons of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Stephanie (Ricky) Randle of Olathe, Kansas.  Five sons, Dwayne (Granee) Parker of Kansas City, Missouri, Timothy (Peggy) Parker of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Lance Parker of Denver, Colorado, Lee Timmons of Gardner, Kansas, and Lamont (Micah) Edwards of Raytown, Missouri. Her sisters, Chriseta Gaskins of Denver, Colorado and Joyce Stevens of Texas, Mary Allen of Kansas City, Missouri. Sixteen grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, and a host of other nieces, nephews, friends and family, along with Nordstrom, Saks 5th Avenue and Neiman Marcus.