Ray Fredrick Parker, 89, a longtime resident of East Olympia, died at his home Monday, January 30, 2023. He was born in Charles City, Iowa, September 15, 1933, the son of Glenn B. and Clara A. (Bill) Parker. The family moved to East Olympia in 1944 and Ray graduated from Olympia High School in 1951.
Ray operated machinery at the Lacey Mushroom Farm until enlisting in the Army in 1953. He was honorably discharged in 1955. He worked for Georgia Pacific and then Safeway for 8 years before working as a warehouseman at the Olympia Brewing Company from 1965 to his retirement in 1992. He had also been operating the Parker family farm in East Olympia and after retiring he continued until just a couple of years ago. Early on there was milking and then for many years he raised hay. His corn was really welcome for years at the Farmer’s Market and other outlets.
On August 2, 1980, Ray was married to Alice A. Winkle at the Methodist Church.
He was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose, Centralia, and the Washington State Grange.
Besides his wife, Alice, of the family home, Ray is survived by five daughters: Cathy (Maurice) Dalton, London, UK, Becky Forsythe, Olympia, Cindy (Jerome) Lindley, Olympia, Tammy (Bryon) Miatke, Australia and Cheryl Harper, Olympia; a son: Brian Wolfenburger, Bucoda; two brothers: Thomas J. (Janet) Parker, East Olympia and Carl (Theresa) Parker, Centralia; two sisters: Doris (Martin) Williams, Kasilof, Alaska and Dorothy (Daryl) Palmer, East Olympia; and also four grandchildren: Meghann, Alysha, Tatum and Bella; and two great grandchildren, Kadyn and Smith. Ray was preceded in death by his brothers Lawrence and Wesley.
A Celebration of Life and luncheon will be held Saturday February 11th at 11 AM at the East Olympia Fire Hall where prepared stories and stories of those that are in attendance will be heard. Private family inurnment will take place in Odd Fellows Memorial Park, Tumwater. The family suggests memorials may be made to the Thurston County Food Bank, 220 Thurston Ave. NE, Olympia, WA 98501. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ray Parker, please visit our flower store.
Ray operated machinery at the Lacey Mushroom Farm until enlisting in the Army in 1953. He was honorably discharged in 1955. He worked for Georgia Pacific and then Safeway for 8 years before working as a warehouseman at the Olympia Brewing Company from 1965 to his retirement in 1992. He had also been operating the Parker family farm in East Olympia and after retiring he continued until just a couple of years ago. Early on there was milking and then for many years he raised hay. His corn was really welcome for years at the Farmer’s Market and other outlets.
On August 2, 1980, Ray was married to Alice A. Winkle at the Methodist Church.
He was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose, Centralia, and the Washington State Grange.
Besides his wife, Alice, of the family home, Ray is survived by five daughters: Cathy (Maurice) Dalton, London, UK, Becky Forsythe, Olympia, Cindy (Jerome) Lindley, Olympia, Tammy (Bryon) Miatke, Australia and Cheryl Harper, Olympia; a son: Brian Wolfenburger, Bucoda; two brothers: Thomas J. (Janet) Parker, East Olympia and Carl (Theresa) Parker, Centralia; two sisters: Doris (Martin) Williams, Kasilof, Alaska and Dorothy (Daryl) Palmer, East Olympia; and also four grandchildren: Meghann, Alysha, Tatum and Bella; and two great grandchildren, Kadyn and Smith. Ray was preceded in death by his brothers Lawrence and Wesley.
A Celebration of Life and luncheon will be held Saturday February 11th at 11 AM at the East Olympia Fire Hall where prepared stories and stories of those that are in attendance will be heard. Private family inurnment will take place in Odd Fellows Memorial Park, Tumwater. The family suggests memorials may be made to the Thurston County Food Bank, 220 Thurston Ave. NE, Olympia, WA 98501. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ray Parker, please visit our flower store.
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