On Monday September 14, 2020, Kathleen (Kathy) Parker, loving wife, mother and Nana passed away at the age of 70 after a heroic 7 ½ year battle with cancer.
Kathy was born on January 11, 1950 to Miriam (Katy) and Francis Huston in Des Moines, Iowa. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1968. On May 13, 1972, she married the love of her life, James (Jim) Parker. They raised 2 daughters, Kelly and Jaime.
In addition to raising her daughters, she babysat at home for many years, and was a second mother to many. She was on the PTA, was a Home Room Mother, a Girl Scout Leader, and a Youth Group Leader at Park Ave Presbyterian Church. Kathy learned how to decorate cakes, and created many birthday, anniversary, and graduation cakes over the years. When she transitioned to working outside of the home, she started working at South Des Moines Veterinary Center where she worked for 32 years, until her retirement in January of 2018. She had many co-workers and clients who became friends over that period of time. She loved animals, including her own bouquet of flowers (all pups were named after a flower), which for 45 years always included a naughty but sweet beagle. Kathy was a member of TTT, and helped send many young girls to camp. She did ceramics for many years with a group of great friends. She was a founding member of the Hawkeye Classic Thunderbird Club. Kathy was a voracious reader, and shared her love of reading with many, she always said you could go anywhere when you were reading a book. Kathy and Jim enjoyed travelling, and had so much fun on their adventures. Kathy also loved spending time with her grandkids, watching movies, baking cookies, fixing special meals and so much more.
Kathy was preceded in death by her parents Katy and Francis Huston, her sister Janet Ramsey, and infant brother Michael Huston.
Kathy is survived by her husband of 48 years, Jim Parker, her daughters Kelly (Robin) McQuerry and Jaime (Josh) Feathers, her brother James (Cindy) Huston of Arizona, granddaughters Mackenzie (Josh) Hanesack, Parker Feathers, Sloane Feathers, Mea McQuerry, Erica McQuerry, Chelsea Davis, and Erin McQuerry, 5 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandson, her nephews, nieces and cousins.
The family would like to specifically thank Dr. Bradley Hiatt and team, Dr. Dev Puri, and Dr. Philip Colletier and the CyberKnife team, who have all been the most amazing care team over the last seven and a half years. Thank you for the gift of time. We would also like to thank the staff at Mercy Hospice House in Johnston who showed us so much compassion at the end.
An open house in celebration of Kathy's life will be held at Jasper Winery, 2400 George Flagg Pkwy on September 25th, 2020 from 2pm-5pm. We ask for you to please wear blue, as it was Kathy's favorite color, and please make sure to wear a mask so we can do our part in controlling the spread. In lieu of flowers, the family will be accepting donations to install a Little Library in Kathy's name, so she can continue to share her love of reading with others or a donation can be made to the AHeins57 Pet Rescue in her name.