Vera Georgia Parker

Vera Georgia Parker, 89, of Salem, died Saturday, July 10, 2004, at the New London Nursing and Rehab Center following declining health.

      The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 13 at the Salem Congregational Church with the Pastor Harold Dorsey officiating. Burial will be in Forest Home Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant. Visitation will begin at noon today at the Beatty Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant, with family present from 6:30 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established.

      Mrs. Parker was born Nov. 10, 1914, in the Stockport area, the daughter of George Washington and Lillie Belle Brown Harter. She was a 1933 graduate of Stockport High School and married Everett E. Parker in Fairfield, Dec. 23, 1936. He preceded her in death and she later married Loren "Dutch" McDowell, who also preceded her in death. She was a member of the Hillsboro Christian Church and attended the Salem Congregational Church. She was also involved with Hillsboro Eastern Star, mother advisor for the Rainbow girls, Christian Women's Fellowship, New London Traveling Tigers camping club, Salem Kitchen Band and the Federated Women's Club of Salem. She was a farm wife, baked wedding cakes and did embroidery for local businesses. She enjoyed gardening, canning, flowers, attending grandchildren's athletic events and playing Rook.

      Survivors include six daughters, Donna and her husband Jim Upton of Mt. Pleasant, Dorothea and her husband Bob Cochran of Donnellson, Doris and her husband Jim Onorato of Salem, Susie and her husband John Kuhens of Salem, Carol and her husband Ronnie McGinnis of Dallas City, Ill., and Cindy and her husband John Rohdy of Farmington; and 23 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

      In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Ivan, Aaron, Marvin and Elmon; four sisters, Meda, Violet, Velma and Vercie; a son, Carl Parker; and a grandson, James Nicholas Onorato.