Gwendolyn Mabelle Parks of Coffeyville, Kansas passed away at the age of 87 at CRMC in Coffeyville on April 13, 2019.
Emmett and Marie (Barnhart) McGuire received a blessing, of a daughter from the Lord on May 5, 1931 when Gwen was born in Cherryvale, Kansas. Gwen was surrounded by her siblings, Larry, Bob, Gerald, Ted, Karen, Marilyn, Bonita and Kay growing up in Cherryvale where together they attended a small rural school. Gwen graduated from Cherryvale High School in 1949. Soon after graduation she married, Lawrence Gene Parks on August 6, 1949. Together they made their home in Cherryvale raising their two boys. In 1974 the couple moved to Coffeyville.
Gwen always sets about her work vigorously, extended her arms to help everyone she met. She had a heartwarming smile and a gentle spirit that provided comfort and warmth. Her servant's heart enjoyed teaching children's Sunday school class and helping people. Gwen's greatest down fall, was that she didn't accept help well, she would rather give it than receive it. Her husband had full confidence in her, and valued her dedication to him and in raising their boys. That was what she considered to be the most important job of her lifetime. She was also employed outside the home, for a number of years she worked at the Lee garment factory in Cherryvale. Changing employers she started working for Vallis Wngroff Business Forms Inc., in Cherryvale in the plate press room manufacturing checks for area banks. After retirement, she could often be found visiting friends, family and church members in the hospital or nursing homes. If volunteering could have been a career she would have been considered a lifetime employee. She was member of the First Southern Baptist Church in Coffeyville.
Gwen's life was worth far more than rubies to her two sons, Roger Parks and wife Edna, and Stephen Parks; and her grandchildren, Ryan Parks his wife Beth, Stacy and her husband Ryan Hightower, and 6 great-grandchildren; brothers, Larry McGuire, Gerald McGuire and wife Lavern; sister's, Karen Lassman, Marilyn and husband Dan Dawson; sister-in-law, Myrna McGuire; brother-in-law, Chet Mishler.
In addition to her husband and parents, Gwen was preceded in death by her brothers, Bob and Ted McGuire, sisters, Bonita Mishler and Kay Williams.
Services honoring her for all that her hands have done, will be held on Friday, April 19, 2019, at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, 2405 Woodland Ave., Coffeyville, Kansas at 1:00 pm, with Pastor Budge Riekman of First Southern Baptist Church officiating. She will be laid to rest next to her husband in the Fairview Cemetery in Cherryvale, Kansas. The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 18, 2019 from 6 to 8 pm at the Chapel. Gwen and Gene had a passion for Weir Baptist Church Camp and the family has requested that memorials be made payable to the camp and may be left in care of chapel. To leave a message of condolence for the family visit www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com
