Karen Parker

Karen Kay McBride-Parker was born on February 9, 1950, to Wanna Dean and Arnold Ray McBride in Fulton, Missouri. Karen was the third child of four children: Phyllis, Arnold Ray, Karen, and Connie.

Karen Kay attended George Washington Carver School through eighth grade, then moved to Springfield, Illinois with her family. She graduated from Southeast High School and went on to graduate from the Business College in Peoria, Illinois. She was an outstanding student and graduated with honors. Following graduation, she lived in Rockford, Illinois and Indianapolis, Indiana.

She was employed by Indiana Water but decided to take a position with the airlines in order to see the world. She talked about the exotic places she would visit. However, on her first flight, she boarded the plane and could not breath, she panicked and was afraid to fly. It wasn't until 30 years later in life she would take her first and only flight. While living in Indianapolis, she met her best friend and the love of her life, Clarence Parker. The couple shared six children: Curtis, Nicholas, Reginald, Blair, Cody, and Dasia. In 1989, the family moved to Des Moines, Iowa to follow her oldest sister, Phyllis.

In 1995, she graduated from Drake University with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education. She worked as a kindergarten teacher for the Des Moines School System until her retirement in 2012. She taught at Park Avenue and Monroe schools. Karen was passionate about teaching and wanted to provide the best educational experience for her students. Her students loved hearing her stories and when she dressed in costumes and funny-themed sweaters to enhance their learning experience.

Karen Kay was known for her compassionate spirit, enthusiastic curiosity, quick wit, and fierce love. Her laugh and smile were infectious. Karen truly lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures, chatting and spending quality time with family and friends. One of the ways that she showed her love was through her cooking and she could make almost anything except a pound cake! Her favorite time of the year was Christmastime, as she made gift giving special and memorable. Karen’s festive holiday soul poured through the house as she collected and displayed black Santa Clauses throughout the years, and to-date her collection holds over a 100 Santa’s!

She is survived by her children: Curtis, Nicholas, Reginald, Blair, and Dasia; her siblings, Phyllis Butler (Donald), Arnold McBride, and Connie Heard (John), grandchildren, Nalah Ritchie, Aleia Ritchie, and Angelo Bell; her fur grandchild, Brazil; and a host of extended family and special friends. She is preceded in passing by her parents, Wanna Dean, Arnold Ray, and Fred Wheatley; her husband, Clarence; and her son, Cody.