Yvonne Parker, entrepreneur, lifelong learner
Yvonne Parker went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's. She was born to David and Virginia Riddle in 1939, the fourth of 13 children. She was preceded in death by Hazel Chason, Betty Norman, Wayne Riddle, Dorothy Hudson, Glen Riddle, Bobby Riddle, Dallas Riddle and Brenda Townsend; and survived by siblings, Vivian Clark, Linda Ludwig, Allen Riddle (Joan) and Cindy Riddle.
She was a hard worker and a lifelong learner, holding many licenses over the years including cosmetology, real estate and insurance. Yvonne could envision and create beauty, and this combined with her spirit of entrepreneurship, led her to own several businesses, including a beauty salon, craft store, clothing store, and a furniture interior design store. She loved working with clients to create a beautiful home from the ground up alongside John (Jack) Parker Sr.
Yvonne also possessed the spirit of adventure. She traveled across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Yvonne especially loved the sun and beaches in Florida, and the fishing in Alaska, Arkansas, and turquoise waters of The Keys. She also journeyed to faraway places including Kenya, South Africa, India, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Greece, Turkey and Israel. She always returned home to her family in Millsboro, telling stories of the beauty she witnessed such as the graceful giraffes in Kenya, the magnificent Taj Mahal in India, and the enormity of the pyramids in Egypt. In Greece, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel, she recounted walking where Jesus walked and where the books of the Bible were written. She studied and knew the Bible, taking many classes from Genesis to Revelation.
Yvonne possessed the rare gift of celebrating others’ success, willing to lend words of wisdom and a helping hand. Her greatest joy was her family, and she was the happiest when they were gathered together. She is preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Alyiah Parker. Yvonne is survived by her children, John Parker Jr. (Leav), David Parker (Diana) and Elizabeth Hodges (Timothy); her grandchildren, Jessica Hastings (Jonathon), Julie White (Brandon), Stephanie Brown, John Parker (Sonia), Joshua Parker (Jamie), Joanna Rice (Steve), Benjamin Hodges, Austin Hodges, Sarah Hodges and Christian Hodges; great-grandchildren, Cason Hazzard, Parker Hazzard, Logan White, Jaxon White, Christabella Rice, Wrigley Rice, Madelyn Rice, Sawyer Rice, Johnny Parker, Edward Parker, Rowan Brown, Lydia Brown and Brody Barrowcliff.
The family would like to say thank you to two of her caregivers, Star and Jeanine, who always put a smile on her face.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 3, at Watson Funeral Home, 211 S. Washington St., Millsboro, where friends may visit from 10 to 11 a.m. Entombment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Pastor Kim Tephabock will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Yvonne’s memory to Lighthouse Christian School, 28157 Lighthouse Crossing, Dagsboro, DE 19939.
Visit Yvonne’s Life Memorial webpage and sign her online guestbook at watsonfh.com.
