Obituary

Ruby Victoria Parker, age 89, passed away on July 8, 2016. She was born on September 19, 1926 in Bellingham, Washington. Her parents were Oscar and Helga Olsen, immigrants from Norway. Ruby attended Meridian High School and married her high school sweetheart Richard “Bud” Parker in 1947. They operated a poultry farm on the Beard Road in Laurel for over 40 years and all the children helped with various chores. Ruby also worked several years in the cafeteria at Meridian Middle School until retiring in 1989. She was an active member of the Laurel Baptist Church for many years.
Ruby loved her family and getting together for reunions, holidays and celebrating her Norwegian heritage. She and Bud spent many summer days at Sea Acres on Orcas Island with their family and friends. Ruby liked cooking, gardening, boating, cracking crab, reading, writing in her journal, and entertaining. She especially enjoyed her morning coffee with bacon and eggs. Ruby had quite a funny bone and almost always had a big smile on her face.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband Richard Charles Parker, her six siblings:  Agnus Martin, Edna Nelson, Ollie Holland, Ozzie Olsen, Albert Olsen, and Bob Olsen. She is survived by her children Julie Parker, Randal Parker, Bart Parker (Judy Hallberg), Vicki Parker Smollen, her ten grandchildren Sara Pengelly (Russ), Rachel O’Hara (Sascha Lamparter), Brendan Smallbone, Logan O’Hara, Jessica Smallbone, Megan Faatili (Sili’a), Parker Smollen (Michelle), Taylor Parker, Alex Smollen, and Adam Parker. She is also survived by her seven great-grandchildren Julia Daniels, Connery O’Hara, Aspen Smallbone, Lauren Lamparter, Faith O’Hara, Mercer Smollen and Cailin Lamparter, and numerous relatives.
The family would like to thank the staff at Twin Harbors Adult Family Home for the loving care shown to our Mom during her stay. There will be a private family gathering to celebrate her life at a later date.