[Oe List ...] Obituary, Suzanne Parker, and service info

[Terry Bergdall]

Below is Suzanne's obituary. A service celebrating her life will be held at
Wesley United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City at 1pm CDT on Saturday,
January 25, 2025. It will also be streamed live on Facebook at
"weselychurchokc".

Terry Bergdall for Bill Parker

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Suzanne Sachse Wallace Parker was born on February 13, 1943, in Chickasha,
OK to Garnet Evelyn (Hill) Wallace and the late James Sachse Wallace, who
passed away while serving in WWII just three short months before Suzanne's
birth. Her mother then re-married John T. (Jake) Cobble and Suzanne was
blessed with younger brother Tom and little sister Mary Jane. The family
settled in Minco, OK where Suzanne attended school and graduated in 1961.
She continued her education at Oklahoma City University where she earned
her Master's degree in Early Childhood Education. While at OCU, she
stumbled upon a young man named Billy G. Parker and before they finished
school, they were united in marriage on January 25, 1963 at the First
United Methodist Church in Minco; what would be the beginning of a
beautiful 61year life together.
 Suzanne & Bill immediately knew they shared a driving passion for the
human community and this motivated them to join the faculty of the
Ecumenical Institute and the Institute of Cultural Affairs, working in
human development at every level of society from Oklahoma City to Dallas,
Miami, Chicago, Indianapolis, then to Paris, France and finally to Abidjan,
Cote d'Ivoire before returning to Oklahoma City in 1985. Throughout the
years of that journey Suzanne taught elementary school, and used all of her
earnings to provide funding for a local staff to get running water and
other basic essentials to areas in need in local communities. While
serving, they were blessed with two children, Andrew Kennedy Parker and
Angela Marie Parker, into their family.
 As the years passed, the young family decided to relocate back to the
states and settled in Oklahoma City where Suzanne then began a rewarding
21year teaching career at Westminster School. Suzanne had such a deep
appreciation for education and inclusion, resulting in many of her students
forming a lifelong connection with "Mrs. Parker."
 Following her retirement in 2010, Suzanne and Bill enjoyed traveling to
Gander, Newfoundland in exploration of answers regarding her father's MIA
WWII death and returning to Paris, relishing in the changes since they'd
lived there. They spent years cultivating a butterfly garden in their yard
and Suzanne found great joy and solace in admiring the multitude of
wildlife that creation offered. She spent hours knitting afghan blankets &
scarves, winning 1st place and Best of Show in the Oklahoma State Fair in
2023 for one of her beloved pieces; which will be forever cherished.
 Suzanne and others helped found the non-profit organization PambeGhana in
Oklahoma City, which is a partnership for bi-lingual, Montessori-based
education for children in remote communities in Northeastern Ghana. She was
a volunteer for Pambe Ghana’s fair- trade Global Market, open in November
and December in Oklahoma City, in which all earnings funds about 1/3 of the
budget of the model school in Ghana. She was continuing her life's work to
help provide aide for those children until her passing. She was a member of
the Wesley United Methodist Church and supported the Wesley Montessori
School for neighborhood children. Suzanne would often be found enjoying her
books, classic music, a cup of tea or good glass of wine and good
conversation. No one however, received more love and generosity from her
than her family. She would do anything for her family. The legacy of her
life will carry on to future generations.
 Suzanne passed away unexpectedly after a brief illness on Friday, December
27, 2024 at the age of 81; just days after hosting a wonderful family
Christmas. Survivors include her husband, Bill Parker of Oklahoma City, OK;
son, Andrew Parker; daughter, Angela Parker, all of Oklahoma City, OK; two
grandchildren, Kennedy Parker of Oxford, MS and Greyson Parker of Edmond,
OK; brother, Tom Cobble & wife Lela of the Oklahoma City area;
brother-in-law, Gary Crosby of Newcastle, OK; sister-in-law, Charlotte
Betche of Cordell, OK; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives
and an abundant amount of friends, past students, colleagues in the
Oklahoma City Metropolitan Library Sort Site, the Library for the Blind,
and many other people and places.
 She was preceded in death by her parents, Sachse Wallace, Jake & Garnet
Cobble; sister, Mary Jane Crosby; and brother & sister-in-law, Dewayne and
Maxine Parker.
 Services will be at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 1401 NW 25th and
Classen Saturday at 1:00pm with reception following to celebrate the wonder
of her life. The celebration will be streamed on Facebook at
wesleychurchokc.
 We ask that those who wish to make donations in Suzanne’s memory can give
to: Pambe Ghana, PO Box 18813, Oklahoma City OK 73154-88103, or to the
Wesley Montessori Preschool at Wesley United Methodist Church.
 The family appreciates the many prayers, gestures and kind words offered
during this difficult time.

Bill Parker
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