Lillian "WARD" Parker

Lillian Ward Parker, beloved sister, aunt and great-aunt, died Sept. 29, 2017 at home in Grayling after a long battle with cancer. Born Jan. 30, 1940, in Birmingham, Alabama, Ward was preceded in death by her parents, Christine Gray and John Lake Parker, a retired U.S. Army major. Ward, as she was known all her life, graduated from Talawanda High School, Oxford, Ohio in 1957, and from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio in 196l. She was a Girl Scout professional with Great Rivers Girl Scout Council in Cincinnati, Ohio from 1964-1987 and executive director of Wayne County (Ohio) Hospice from 1987-88. During her time in Cinncinati she also was a volunteer American Red Cross Disaster Relief. In 1990 she moved to Grayling, Michigan where she owned Milltown Pet Grooming from 1992-2003. She retired in 2003 and devoted her life to volunteering with organizations including the Crawford County Council on Aging, the Crawford Ausable School District Adult Literacy Program and RSVP. She was named a Volunteer of the Year by Wellington Farm U.S.A. and a two-time Volunteer of the Year by the Grayling Lions Club. A "people" person, Ward loved working and volunteering with organizations which purposes are to help others. She really cared about people! Ward was quiet yet opinionated, pragmatic yet stubborn, determined, busy, tireless, generous. A television sports junkie who could slice through the water in a kayak or canoe without sound, a gardener who could pull weeds for hours and bend plants to her will. Until she lost her sight, sewing and playing her antique piano were favorite activities. She is survived by her sister, Mary Parker, of Grayling, Michigan; brother John Parker (Marta Hepler Drahos), of Maple City, Michigan, nephew Jason Parker (Siska Parker) of Evergreen, Colorado; great-nephew Axel Parker, of Evergreen, Colorado; and her dog, Ozzie. An informal celebration of life will be held Saturday, Oct. 7, from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home in Grayling. A time to share and remember over a buffet luncheon. In lieu of flowers or cards, please direct donations to the Crawford County Council on Aging, CCCC Help Center, Grayling Lions Club or to Wellington Farm U.S.A. in Grayling. Condolences may be sent to www.sorensonlockwood.com Arrangements are being handled by Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home in Grayling. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lillian "WARD" Parker, please visit our flower store.