Wanda Clay Parkey

Wanda Clay (Whitaker) Parkey passed away on April 5th in Overland Park, Kansas. Wanda was born on December 27, 1915 to James Claude Whitaker and Mary Florence (Kenner) Whitaker in Paoli, Oklahoma. She was fourth of 14 children. Wanda married Joseph Bailey Parkey on December 23, 1933 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. After a year of living in the state of Washington they returned to Oklahoma with baby Tony and eventually moved to a farm outside Elmore City where they continued farming and ranching throughout their working life. During the oil boom Wanda and Joe purchased a café in Elmore city and named it “Wanda’s Café.” The food was wonderful and the café served as the centerpiece of the community for many years and today a plaque outside the original building pays tribute to “Wanda’s Café.” She began a new career as kitchen manager for the Pauls Valley State School. Her vast knowledge of food preparation and her ability to manage people made her a perfect fit for this new career. She loved the children with disabilities and helped many of them learn the basics of food preparation so that they could work and live outside the State School. She would tell us at times that she was helping children that were much like her sister June and that gave her great satisfaction. Joe and Wanda enjoyed retirement on the farm and looked forward to seeing their grandchildren on summer vacations. She and her family were active members of the First Methodist Church in Elmore City from the time her younger children were in school to after her retirement. Wanda was proceeded in death by her husband Joe and her son Tony of Highlands, Texas; sister Olva and husband Truman Barton of Houston, Texas; sister Erma and husband Lee Dickinson of Purcell, Oklahoma; sister Orban and husband J.B. Lawson of Wayne, Oklahoma; sister Renoma and husband George Fuller of Houston, Texas; sister Ann and husband Ralph of Houston, Texas; sister June of Purcell/Oklmulgee, Oklahoma and brother Talmage of Paoli, Oklahoma. Wanda is survived by brother James and wife Virgie Whitaker, of Moore, Oklahoma; brother Calvin and wife Nadean Whitaker of Houston, Texas; brother Stanley Whitaker of Baytown, Texas; sister Esteleen and husband Floyd Engeman of Denver, Colorado; sister Betty and husband Richard Shanahan of Garland, Texas; sister Weeta and husband Clyde Tucker of Okmulgee, Oklahoma and numerous nieces and nephews. Survivors of her immediate family include daughter Jeanette and husband David Manes of Tulsa, Oklahoma; daughter Elaine and husband Bobby Tuley of La Veta, Colorado; and son Steve and wife Laura Parkey of Prairie Village, Kansas. Wanda leaves 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 9 in the Wooster Funeral Home Chapel in Pauls Valley. Interment will be in the Paoli Cemetery under the direction of Wooster Funeral Home. You may send a condolence to the family at www.woosterfuneralhomes.com. The family will be receiving friends on Wednesday, April 8, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Wanda was the most loving, caring and positive mother, sister and friend that anyone could hope to have. Her children will miss her until the end of our time.

Wanda Clay Parkey

December 27, 1915 - April 5, 2009