Betty Parker

Mrs. Mary "Betty" Parker, 86, of Owen County, died on March 19, 2016 at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Stephanie Parker in Smyrna, Tennessee. Betty was born November 25, 1929 to the late CB and Octavia Poe Acree in the Keefe community of Grant County. As a young child she became a Christian and a member of the Keefer Baptist Church. As soon as she learned to play the piano, she became the church pianist. She graduated from Mason High School and married Roy Gordon Parker on July 3, 1947. They became the parents of five children, Patricia Hendren (Tony) Callan, Douglas Lynn (Sharon) Parker, Daniel Wayne (Stephanie) Parker and Stephen Dale (Mary Ann) Parker. A daughter, Pamela Jo died as an infant. They lived on a farm on the Golden Circle Road in Owen County most of their married life and celebrated 60 years together before Roy's death in 2008. They were active members of the Macedonia Baptist Church, where she played piano, taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and various other roles in the church. Her hobbies included sewing, reading, playing the piano, raising a garden and canning and cooking many delicious meals for her family and visiting pastors and evangelists. She was secretary for the Owen County Extension Office for 24 years and loved helping children with 4-H sewing and project work. After sending all four of their children to college, she and Roy became foster parents for the Commonwealth of KY and had more than 35 children in their home over a 30 year span. Two of those children, John Stuard and Dora Bice became part of their family. She is survived by her children and their spouses, fourteen grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren, a sister in law, Linda Acree and a host of nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Raymond and wife Ann Acree and Mellvin Acree and her son in law, Marvin Hendren. McDonald & New Funeral Homes are in charge of arrangements. Family will receive friends at the Main Street location on Monday, March 28, 2016 from 4-8pm. Funeral services will be held at the Macedonia Baptist Church at 11am Tuesday, with burial in the Monterey Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Jeremy, Jason and Nathan Hendren, Ben, Matt and John Luther Parker, Drew, Anthony and Adam Parker and Jacob and Eli Parker. Memorials are suggested to the Macedonia Baptist Church or Sunrise Children Services of KY at 300 Hope Street, Mt. Washington, KY 40047