Earline Parker was born on June 11, 1939, in Morris, Oklahoma, to John and Ruby Phillips, both of whom preceded her in death. She was the youngest of twelve children and was the last of her siblings to remain. Although all of her brothers and sisters have gone before her, she carried their memories, their love, and the family legacy with her throughout her life.
Her brothers: Wilson James Phillips; Earl Phillips, her beloved twin brother; John D. Phillips; Charlie “Chuck” Phillips; Zebedee Phillips; William Paul Phillips; and Ervin Phillips.
Her sisters: Pearlie Bell Bohanon, Ruba “Ruby” R. Conley, Corrine Marie Gill, and Leota Gordon.
Earline and Robert W. Parker met at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas. Their relationship grew, and on September 16, 1958, they married in Wichita, where they began building their life and family together. Robert served in the United States Air Force and spent time serving in Korea. During his military career, Earline experienced life as a military wife, traveling from state to state as they followed his assignments. While Robert was serving his country, including his time in Korea, Earline remained in the United States and worked at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.
Together, Earline and Robert built a family and shared nearly four decades of marriage until Robert passed away on September 3, 1997. She was also preceded in death by four of their children: Eugene Parker, Linda-Kay Parker, Donald “Donnie” Parker, and a beloved baby girl. She was also preceded in death by her adored baby granddaughter, DeFondra Parker, and her grandson, Kevin Parker, who honored his grandmother’s memory most beautifully by naming his first and only daughter Zoe-Earline after her, carrying Earline’s name into another generation.
Earline dedicated 31 years of her life to Saint Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas, where she worked as a laboratory assistant before retiring. In 1995, she moved to Brent, Alabama, to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. Although they later moved back to Kansas, Earline chose to remain in Alabama, making a home and life of her own while continuing to cherish the family she loved so dearly.
Retirement gave Earline the freedom to enjoy life on her own terms. She could often be found lounging around the house, talking on the phone, working crossword puzzles, playing scratch-off tickets, watching court shows, and cheering on Alabama football. She also spent several days reading her granddaughter Kimberly Parker’s first published book, Broken, becoming so deeply caught up in the story that she would stay up late and sometimes not even answer the phone. She enjoyed traveling from state to state to spend time with family and could often be found driving herself around town for her morning cup of coffee and running her errands. These simple routines were part of who she was, and those who knew her will remember the joy she found in doing things her own way.
Earline’s faith remained a very big and important part of her life. She found a spiritual home at Present Truth Church after her dear friend, the late Christine Bishop, introduced her to the church. From then on, she became a member and remained there for many years, cherishing the love, fellowship, and spiritual connection she found with her church family. She was often lovingly referred to as “Mother Parker” by those who knew her.
Earline loved her church, her pastor, the late Apostle Dr. Calvin J. Meadows, whom she spoke very highly of over the years, and her church family, who loved on her dearly. She often told others how wonderful her church family had been to her. Present Truth Church was truly her home away from home.
Earline was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She cherished her family above all and remained connected to the people she loved, near and far. She leaves to cherish her memory her children: Terry “Wayne” Phillips (Barbara Smith), Brenda Parker, and Robert “Larcel” Parker; her grandchildren: Kimberly Parker, Edward Parker, Guy Smith, Wesley “Herb” Parker, Tasha Lynn Parker, Robert “Bobby” Parker, and De’Mesha Latrease Phillips-Smith; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, church family, and friends.
Earline was the last of her twelve siblings, but she never stood alone. She carried the memories of the family she came from and passed that love forward to the generations that followed. Her life was a testament to love, faith, strength, resilience, family, and perseverance.
Earline’s earthly journey came to an end on August 13, 2026, at 1:50 A.M., as she peacefully passed away in the hospital surrounded by her daughter, Brenda Parker; her granddaughter, Kimberly Parker; and her son, Robert “Larcel” Parker. Though her earthly journey has ended, Earline’s love, memory, and legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her. She will be remembered for the love she gave, the family she nurtured, the faith she carried, the strength she displayed, and the many lives she touched along the way.