Gertie Marie Parks

Gertie Marie Brown Parks, 90, passed away on Friday, November 12, 2010, at her home in Tulsa OK. Her memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 16, 2010, at First Baptist Church located at Fourth and Detroit in downtown Tulsa. Services are under the direction of Musgrove-Merriott-Smith Funeral Services & Crematory, Claremore.
Parks was born May 21, 1920, in Chelsea, OK, to Clyde Candler Brown and Annie Belle Richardson Brown, the first of three children. She graduated from Chelsea High School in 1938 and then went to Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee. Parks graduated from OBU in 1942 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics.
Parks taught home economics at Morris High School for one year before taking an office position at McDonnell Douglas in 1943 to help with the World War II effort. She moved to Washington, D.C. in 1944 as part of Washington Gas & Light Company’s home service department.
When her high school sweetheart completed his WWII military service, she returned to Oklahoma in 1945 and married Arthur B. Parks on December 14. She also accepted a position with Oklahoma Natural Gas Company’s home service department and worked for it in Oklahoma City and then in Tulsa. Parks traveled throughout the state for ONG conducting cooking classes and demonstrating the newest innovations in gas kitchen appliances. She left ONG in 1949 to raise a family, but continued experimenting in the kitchen. One of her creations, Peanut Butterscotchers, earned Parks a contestant spot in the nationwide 1960 Pillsbury Bake-Off.
A second career, teaching kindergarten for Tulsa Public Schools, began in 1962 when Parks accepted a position at Hoover Elementary. She transferred to Salk Elementary in 1964 and taught there until her 1983 retirement.
Parks loved her family and was the number one cheerleader for her children and grandchildren. Faith was a life priority, and she was active at First Baptist Church Tulsa for more than 60 years. Parks volunteered in the church’s cradle roll department and then taught children’s Sunday School for 20-plus years. She also enjoyed participating in a neighborhood garden club, serving as an officer for her teacher’s sorority and home economics club, and volunteering for Meals on Wheels.
She was preceded in death by her parents and Arthur Parks, her beloved husband of almost 65 years, as well as by one brother, Paul C. Brown.
She is survived by her son Stephen B. Parks and daughter-in-law Jo Nelle Langdon Parks of Tulsa; daughter Susan Parks Dornblaser and son-in-law John D. Dornblaser of Tulsa; brother John J. Brown of Tulsa; brother-in-law Gene G. Parks and wife Virginia Carter Parks of Inola; sister-in-law Marion Kniskern Parks of Claremore; grandchildren Annell M. Dornblaser and Edward B. Dornblaser, both of Tulsa; step-grandchildren Stephanie Shearer Jimison and husband Jon of Tulsa, and Drew Shearer of Oklahoma City. Survivors also include three nephews, 11 nieces, one step-great grandson, and numerous other great nieces and nephews.
Interment at Chelsea Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association - Oklahoma & Arkansas Chapter, 6465 South Yale, Suite, Tulsa, OK 74136, ( www.alz.org/alzokar ).