Our Mama and Grandmama, Merilyn Blanks Parker passed away on February 5th .  at The Live Oak Retirement Center. She had a beautiful smile on her face just minutes before her passing away.  Her daughter Kathryn was with her as she took her last breath.  She was born 2 days after Christmas in Monroe, LA as the spelling of her name with an E. We have comfort knowing that she is now in her Heavenly Home with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, a place where we all want to be one day.

She was preceded in death by her Father, Charles Leroy Blanks, Mother, Thelma Cox Blanks and sister, Thelma Blanks Valentine. She will be sadly missed by her 2 loving children, Kathryn Parker Martin and Charles Parker as well as her ex-husband Don Parker. She will also be missed by her precious Granddaughters, Noel Humphries (Kyle) and Sara Holley Atherton and beautiful great-grandchildren Kate, London, Finn and Kynlee as well as a hosts of nieces and nephews.

She grew up in Shreveport and attended St. Vincent's Academy and then graduated from C.E. Byrd High School. She was a Housewife as well as a wonderful Secretary working at different locations.  She loved to type and could type 60 + wpm. She was very proficient with her English skills and loved to compose letters. She also loved to find bargains and was an entrepreneur in her own right.

Our Mom was a loving and caring Christian lady and instilled this in her children and grandchildren as the love for The Lord. One of her favorite sayings was when you asked her where she bought something.. She would say "I got it from the getting place.  She had a sense of humor and was a "one of a kind lady". She loved her family and they loved her and will miss her tremendously.

We would like to thank all the Nurses, Aides, Cafeteria Workers and other Caregivers, Therapists, etc. at Live Oak for the wonderful care you gave our Mother and Grandmama. We would also like to express our appreciation to Noel Memorial Methodist Church for the Saturday meals that you would bring her monthly.

A celebration of her life will be on Wednesday, February 7th.  Our Mom's visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. and Celebration Services 11:00 a.m. at Aulds Funeral Home at 7849 E. Kings Hwy, Shreveport.  Burial will be at Arlington Cemetery in Homer, LA at a later date.