Annita June Parker

Annita “June” Parker, 85, of Weatherford, Texas, went to her heavenly reward on Friday, November 27, 2020. She died surrounded by her loving family after a year-long valiant battle against cancer. June was born January 20, 1935, in Hobbs, New Mexico, to Frank and Irene Small. She grew up in Carlsbad, New Mexico, graduating from Carlsbad High School. She loved to read, was an excellent student, and played the piano and baritone. 

June attended Abilene Christian University where she met and married Ronnie L. Parker, her beloved husband of 65 years. They were missionaries in Copenhagen, Denmark from 1960 to 1965. The family moved to Dimmitt, Texas in 1965, where Ronnie preached at the 4th and Bedford Church of Christ, and June finished her education at West Texas State University in 1969. She received a Master’s Degree in ESL from Texas Tech in 1984. From 1969 until 1999, June taught Spanish and English in the Dimmitt, Nazareth, and Weatherford ISDs. She also guided students in UIL activities, and was often a class and club sponsor, including her beloved Spanish clubs. 

June traveled to Mexico and Spain to study and hone her Spanish language skills. She also “helpfully corrected” her family and friends to help improve their English grammar skills. After retiring, she continued to substitute teach in Weatherford until 2018. June loved babies. She taught nursery classes at 4th and Bedford church every Sunday for over 20 years. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Faith and family were the most important things to June. She was a faithful wife to Ronnie, and they enjoyed a long life together. They had a wide range of hobbies and interests, and incorporated these into extended family activities. A family favorite activity was going to Possum Kingdom Lake to water ski from sunup to sundown. Ronnie and June were both able to water ski long past their prime. They loved all types of music, including marching band and ACU Sing-Song, country and western dance music, and the Fort Worth Symphony. 

Ronnie and June thought that the closest thing to heavenly sounds was singing “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” and Handel’s “Messiah.” The children and grandchildren feel the same way. Ronnie and June enjoyed watching sports and attending ball games at all levels from Little League games of the grandchildren to professional teams. They were avid Dallas Mavericks fans. Ronnie and June enjoyed golf and attending the Colonial Golf Tournament. They enjoyed dancing during their senior years, especially when they attended dances with friends. June was also an excellent bridge player, which she played weekly until March 2020.

With Ronnie, June raised a tight-knit, loving family. They happily attended their children’s and grandchildren’s activities for years. Besides holiday gatherings, June organized quarterly birthday parties so the entire family could come together and celebrate. Traditional Danish meals were a specialty, but June was an excellent cook in all areas. 

June loved her extended family as well—her parents, brothers Ray and Jay (Richly) and their families, as well as Ronnie’s siblings, Earlene and Evelyn, and their families. She attended Stuart family reunions on her maternal side regularly. June was a loyal friend and kept up with childhood and lifelong friends, including third-generation friends from Denmark. She took meals to neighbors and was available to any friend in need. Facebook was a favorite way for June to stay in touch. She loved posting, and reading posts and comments from hundreds of friends and family. Former students, colleagues and friends, and family had loving respect for her.

June is survived by children, Dawn and Mike Sutherland, Cliff and Pat Parker, Nita and Todd Whitt, and Brenda Schrader and Dean Bratton; grandchildren: Kristen Sutherland Peelle and husband, Jeff; Haley Sutherland Gilbert and husband, Jon; Julia Parker McMinn and husband, Jackson; Paul Parker; Matt Parker and wife, Caly; Ellen Parker Grossman and husband, Chuck; Ben Parker; Kayla Whitt; Joshua Schrader and wife, Victoria; and Amy Schrader May and husband, Jayton; great-grandchildren: Michael, Bradley, and Heidi Peelle; Liam, Henry, and Remi McMinn; Ada and Roland Parker; and three great-grandchildren on the way: babies, Gilbert, Schrader, and May.

June was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ronnie; grandson, Curtis Whitt; brothers, Ray Small and Richly Hirsch.

 A private family service for June will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to New Day Services for Children & Families, 6816 Camp Bowie Blvd W., Suite 112, Fort Worth, Texas 76116.