Constance "Connie" Hess Parker, two weeks shy of her 89th birthday, of Ravenna, Texas passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on Friday, December 15 at home.

She was born December 27, 1934, to William Parmenter and Susan O’Donnell Hess in Clay Center, Kansas. Connie was the next to youngest of eight children.

She married Ira Cardell Parker, the son of Arthur and Mary Rimes Parker in Flossmoor, Illinois on August 17,1957.

Connie is preceded in death by her mother and father; brothers, Martin Hess and Harry Hess; and sisters, Eleanor Hoesli, Alma Maga, Agnes Toone, Bernadine Baltis, and Betty Davis.

She is survived by her son, John Lee Parker and wife Melinda Parker of Concord, Arkansas, four daughters, Mary P. Gibbs and husband Jimmy McGrew of Terrell, Texas, Suzanne Bennett and husband Galen Bennett of Ravenna, Texas, Eleanor Singleton and husband Les Singleton of Jacksboro, Texas, and Lee Anne Smith and husband Lewis Smith of Decatur, Texas, as well as ten wonderful grandchildren, Andrea Trout, Allison Gage, Austin Parker, Cassandra Bennett, Tamara Wood, Sarah Gibbs-Escobedo, Collin Singleton, Darcie Singleton, Travis Thomas, Paige Smith and four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Connie enjoyed entertaining her friends, dinner group, and large family gatherings. She loved gardening and planting flowers. She even found pulling weeds therapeutic. She was a long-time member of St. Monica Catholic Church in Dallas before moving to the Bonham area upon her retirement from EMC in 2000. As a member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Bonham she was very active in the Ladies Guild and served on the church financial council. She was thrilled to travel the world with her sister Bernadine, her daughters and daughter in-law, fulfilling a long time wish to travel. She will be missed by her family and friends for her quick wit, opinions, guidance, and love demonstrated through actions.

The celebration Mass for the life of Connie will be celebrated by Father Arturo Molina, her longtime friend and spiritual advisor, at 11:00 a.m. on January 6 at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 916 Maple Street, Bonham, Texas 75418. The visitation and rosary will be at 10:00 a.m., prior to Mass at the church. A celebration of Connie’s life will be held at her home in Ravenna following Mass by her children for her friends.

Family interment will be held at a later date at Saint Peter and Saint Paul’s Catholic Cemetery in Clay Center, Kansas.

In addition to flowers, donations may be made to two of her passions listed below.

C/O St. Elizabeth’s Ladies Guild Scholarship Fund
Atten: Marge Ross 
916 Maple Street
Bonham, Texas 75418

or

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church’s Flower Fund
Atten: Shirley Forney
916 Maple Street
Bonham, Texas 75418

To convey condolences or to sign an online registry please visit www.coopersorrells.com.