GRANBURY — Mary Belle Compton Parker, 92, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, at her home in Lipan.
Funeral: 2:00 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, 2012, at Wiley Funeral Home. Burial: Granbury Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Mary was born Nov. 8, 1919, in Tolar, to Delmar Compton and Bessie Tuggle Compton. She grew up in Lipan until she met and married the love of her life, Binyon Hollis Parker. They moved to San Antonio and she worked as a data complilation specialist on the B-58 at Kelley Air Force Base until their retirement. Then they purchased her grandparents property and built their dream home in Lipan. There they raised an annual crop of cattle, goats and grandchildren. When Binyon passed away in 1993, Mary’s primary focus was seeing over her farm and family. She took pride in watching them all grow and learn, always willing to give sound advice and laugh when she could. Her love of family was unmatched from her sisters to her great grandchildren. Mary was proud of each and every one of them and told them so at every available opportunity. And when they needed a good stern Christian observation, she made herself available to administer it.
Mary was a woman of conviction, strong in faith and never afraid to ask for the assistance of God. She enjoyed a good joke and was quick to come to the aid of anyone in need. Mary was a member of the Lipan Church of Christ and was a season ticket holder on the widows pew.
Mary would ride her tractor and shred the pastures well into her 80’s, many times outworking young men. She spent countless hours working on her farm, not satisfied until it looked like a park. She loved her home and called it “Heaven on Earth”.
Many times over the years she has said how badly she missed Binyon. Finally she will miss him no more. They are both watching us together from heaven.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Binyon Hollis Parker; parents, Delmar and Bess Compton; and brother, Dale Compton.
Survivors: Daughter, Gail Purselley of Lipan; grandchildren, Lisa Burwell and husband, Jim, of Granbury, Michael Purselley and wife, Shari, of Granbury; great grandchildren, Amber Dickerson, Jamie Burwell, Chase and Pfc. Tyler Pierson, Kyli Purselley; sisters, Frances Wise and husband, Delbert, of Stephenville, Donetta Clines and husband, Wally, of Fort Worth; many nieces, nephews and a host of friends and loved ones are left to cherish her memory.
Wiley Funeral Home
Granbury, 817-573-3000
