Obituary of Brenda Parker

Brenda Jean Parker, 66, of Grapeview, WA, passed away surrounded by loved ones, on Sunday, August 11th, 2024 after a 9-month battle with cancer. Brenda was born on July 16th, 1958 in McCleary, WA. Brenda spent her early years in McCleary with her parents Rev. William and Georgia Self and her siblings, Mike, Billie and Kathy. She was the youngest sister, and of course, adored by them all. As a child she easily made new friends and kept in touch with many of them for the remainder of her life. On March 28, 1981 she married the love of her life, Edward (Skip) Parker. Together, they built their dream home in Grapeview, where they raised far more than just their own children. Alongside the myriad of different animals that were cared for on their farm over the years, Brenda happily welcomed her children’s friends into her home and treated them as her own, loving each one individually. For 30 years, Brenda was a loyal employee of the Simpson Door Plant in McCleary, and she worked there until her retirement. Outside of work, Brenda enjoyed gardening, even though she would say she was not very good at it. More than anything, she cherished her friendships, developing them at each stage of her life and keeping them until the very end. At the time of her passing Brenda still had friendships that she developed as a young child. Her friends and family encompassed all aspects of her life and she always found a way to spend time with all these loved ones, from phone call chats to pool side BBQ’s and Saturday night card games. Brenda is survived by her husband, Edward (Skip) Parker; her daughter, Marisa Lynn Hatfield; son, Dan Parker; daughter, Dawn Puterbaugh; grandchildren, Alyssa Lou, Mason, Bradley, Savannah, Ava, Miyah, Deanna, Chris, Ally, Amy, Brandon, Jordan, Tyler, Jade, and Forest; sister, Kathy Sample; brother, Mike Self; mother, Georgia (Self) May and many nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father, William N. Self; sister, Billie (Self) Vatne and her step-son, Doug Parker. Brenda always maintained her kindness, compassion, and love of family and friends. She expressed gratitude for her long life, full of wonderful and varied experiences, and she will be missed by many. There will be a memorial service on September 14, 2024 at 1:00pm. More details will be posted on Facebook soon.