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01-31-2008, 11:18 AM
Marian Z. Parker
12/22/1923 to 1/15/2008 Born in Delia, Alberta, Canada, she moved with her parents at the age of three months to Sumner, WA. Marian was a longtime resident of Greenwater, WA. She and her husband Al were the owner/ operators of Parker's Mill and Hardware Store. She was a perpetual member of the Greenwater Fireman's Auxiliary, and participated in many events there. Marian was also a pioneer in the early days of Crystal Mountain Ski Lodge, working in the kitchen and dining halls. She was renowned among the skiers for her home-made chili and hospitality. She was preceded in death by her husband Al and is survived by her three daughters, Linda (Bill), Betty, and Judy (Jerry), 9 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. She also leaves 2 sisters, Stella and Pauline (Carl). Some of her most valuable assets were her many friends and acquaintances in the Greenwater, Enumclaw, and Sumner areas. Her passing leaves a void, but Marian would have wanted all of us to remember the happy times with her. Arrangements by Edwards Memorial Center, 253-566-1008.
From: http://www.southsoundclassifieds.com/Obits/Listing.asp
I heard Marian was a resident of Greenwater for about 45 years and was the “Community Matron.” She had a long history of service to the Community Center and also the Fire Department. The two entities and Marian were closely tied. The Community Center started in the ‘70s and back then was called the Fire Fighters Auxiliary. At the time Greenwater was mostly a remote skiing, hunting and logging destination. In the earliest days of the community, there was no telephone, no television, only a small road. Local folks communicated by way of radio for many years and later the community shared a single party line. As the town grew in population and as the number of visitors to the area increased, there was a need for a local Fire Station. When the station was built it was built side by side with the Fire Fighters Auxillary, now known as the Community Center. Both the Fire Station and Community Center are all volunteer organizations. I’m told that Marian played an integral role in the establishment and growth of both, and continued her efforts until her passing.
I’m a new member on the Community Center Council and feel honored to know that the Community Center owes part of its existence to the legacy she left. At our most recent council meeting, there was a lot of discussion about Marian. There are plans underway at the Center for a tribute to Marian.
I asked Linda Irvine, a neighbor of Marian and another member of the Community Council to share an account of Marian, and following is what she wrote: Marian and Al Parker were kind of legendary up here. They were pioneers at the mountain and Marian was the first cook at the first day lodge on the mountain.
Kids and I lived next door to them for 6 years and were the best neighbors we ever had. Marian (while almost 40 years older than me) was truly one of my best friends. My best memories of her will be when she would come over on Sunday mornings and sit at my breakfast bar while I made breakfast for her, kids and I. We would talk about everything and everyone! LOL. Then I would always send a plate over to her husband Al. He had a real hard time breathing and would not leave the house. But he loved my biscuits. I also remember enjoying watching the hummingbirds with her and we would always call each other if we spotted Elk in our yards.
Marian was also one of the founding members of the Community Center. Since we had the power outage and the new board actually only took over [on January 23], she died as the current President.
She was big into quilting at one time. We used to do a Greenwater quilt every year at the Community Center. Several women in town would each do one 1 foot x 1 foot section and Marian would assemble them all for a final quilt that was then raffled. The last few years she was also one of the judges for the Lonesome Lake Cookoff (http://explore-greenwater.com/community/showthread.php?t=148).[/i]
"Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living."
12/22/1923 to 1/15/2008 Born in Delia, Alberta, Canada, she moved with her parents at the age of three months to Sumner, WA. Marian was a longtime resident of Greenwater, WA. She and her husband Al were the owner/ operators of Parker's Mill and Hardware Store. She was a perpetual member of the Greenwater Fireman's Auxiliary, and participated in many events there. Marian was also a pioneer in the early days of Crystal Mountain Ski Lodge, working in the kitchen and dining halls. She was renowned among the skiers for her home-made chili and hospitality. She was preceded in death by her husband Al and is survived by her three daughters, Linda (Bill), Betty, and Judy (Jerry), 9 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. She also leaves 2 sisters, Stella and Pauline (Carl). Some of her most valuable assets were her many friends and acquaintances in the Greenwater, Enumclaw, and Sumner areas. Her passing leaves a void, but Marian would have wanted all of us to remember the happy times with her. Arrangements by Edwards Memorial Center, 253-566-1008.
From: http://www.southsoundclassifieds.com/Obits/Listing.asp
I heard Marian was a resident of Greenwater for about 45 years and was the “Community Matron.” She had a long history of service to the Community Center and also the Fire Department. The two entities and Marian were closely tied. The Community Center started in the ‘70s and back then was called the Fire Fighters Auxiliary. At the time Greenwater was mostly a remote skiing, hunting and logging destination. In the earliest days of the community, there was no telephone, no television, only a small road. Local folks communicated by way of radio for many years and later the community shared a single party line. As the town grew in population and as the number of visitors to the area increased, there was a need for a local Fire Station. When the station was built it was built side by side with the Fire Fighters Auxillary, now known as the Community Center. Both the Fire Station and Community Center are all volunteer organizations. I’m told that Marian played an integral role in the establishment and growth of both, and continued her efforts until her passing.
I’m a new member on the Community Center Council and feel honored to know that the Community Center owes part of its existence to the legacy she left. At our most recent council meeting, there was a lot of discussion about Marian. There are plans underway at the Center for a tribute to Marian.
I asked Linda Irvine, a neighbor of Marian and another member of the Community Council to share an account of Marian, and following is what she wrote: Marian and Al Parker were kind of legendary up here. They were pioneers at the mountain and Marian was the first cook at the first day lodge on the mountain.
Kids and I lived next door to them for 6 years and were the best neighbors we ever had. Marian (while almost 40 years older than me) was truly one of my best friends. My best memories of her will be when she would come over on Sunday mornings and sit at my breakfast bar while I made breakfast for her, kids and I. We would talk about everything and everyone! LOL. Then I would always send a plate over to her husband Al. He had a real hard time breathing and would not leave the house. But he loved my biscuits. I also remember enjoying watching the hummingbirds with her and we would always call each other if we spotted Elk in our yards.
Marian was also one of the founding members of the Community Center. Since we had the power outage and the new board actually only took over [on January 23], she died as the current President.
She was big into quilting at one time. We used to do a Greenwater quilt every year at the Community Center. Several women in town would each do one 1 foot x 1 foot section and Marian would assemble them all for a final quilt that was then raffled. The last few years she was also one of the judges for the Lonesome Lake Cookoff (http://explore-greenwater.com/community/showthread.php?t=148).[/i]
"Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living."