FLORENCE HAMMER PARKS

1925-2017

Florence Hammer Parks left this life peacefully on February 21, 2017. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, a loving sister, and a loyal friend to many. Florence was born on May 19, 1925, in Haskell, Texas to Florence Couch and Leonard Benton Hammer. After graduating from Haskell High School, she moved with her parents and brother, Joe, to join her sisters, Amelia and Doris, in Houston. While working as an executive secretary at The Texas Company, she was introduced to Howell Parks, Jr. After a short courtship, they married on November 13, 1948. Florence and Howell lived a life to which many post-World War II couples aspired. They added three children to the baby boom generation, worked hard, and were active in their community. In addition to being a dedicated stay-athome mom, Florence served on PTO boards, lead a Girl Scout troop, and served as an officer of the Holly Branch Garden Club for many of the 24 years she was a member. Later in her life, Florence became very interested in genealogy. She became such a fixture at the Clayton Library that she was offered a job and worked there for 5 years! Throughout her married life, Florence was active in the St. Mark’s Episcopal Church parish. She taught Sunday School, volunteered at the church’s resale shop, The Bargain Counter, and was a member and officer of the Women of St. Mark’s and St. Mark’s Endowment Board. Florence was a dedicated member of the Altar Guild, and in her final years as a member, she served as Directress. She embroidered and needlepointed several items for the church. Florence’s children, grandchildren and great-granddaughters enjoyed spending time sewing, cross-stitching, and completing various crafts with her. Florence also loved playing card games with her Bridge Club and family and always had a crossword puzzle close at hand.

Florence was quiet, patient, strong, and full of grace - a lovely lady. Although she would never have claimed it, she was a role model for many people who knew her. She was always gracious and appreciative of other’s acts of kindness. Having grown up in a family that struggled during the Depression, Florence often marveled at the opportunities and privileges she experienced in her lifetime.

Florence was blessed with a large, loving family. She was predeceased by her husband of almost 60 years, Howell Parks, Jr., her son, Joseph Howell Parks, and her sister Doris Hammer McConnell. Florence is survived by her daughter, Margaret Parks Eggleston, her son and daughter-in-law, and Thomas Cunningham and Ellen Headley Parks, her daughter-in-law, Linda Bolding Parks, her grandchildren, Erin Eggleston Salisbury and her husband, Richard Collin Salisbury, William Joseph Eggleston IV and his wife Elizabeth Kidd, and Thomas Howell Eggleston; Elizabeth Parks Scott and her husband Timothy Hugh Scott, Thomas Cunningham Parks III, and Margaret Anne Parks; Michael Warham Parks and Matthew Wallace Parks; and her great grand-children, Allison Anne, Audrey Isabel and Bradford Collin Salisbury, William Wyatt and Berkeley Erin Eggleston, Sawyer Allen and Timothy Parks Scott, and Samuel Maddox Clark; her sister, Amelia Hammer Shrader and her brother, Joseph Leonard Hammer; and beloved nieces and nephews and their children.

A memorial service for Florence Parks will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2017, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 3816 Bellaire Boulevard, at 10:00 a.m. For those who wish, donations may be made to the St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Endowment or to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.