SHIRLEY PARKER Obituary (2021) – Mount Vernon, WA

Shirley Louise Parker was a lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest. She was born and raised in Everett, the eldest of three daughters of Gus and Elaine (Carlson) Sieverling. She died in Seattle at the age of 96.
Her parents were descendants of German, French and Swedish immigrants. Her father worked in his family’s bakery in Ohio as a boy before moving west and eventually ending up at a paper mill in Everett. He taught his daughters the secrets of fine pastry and Shirley passed these lessons on to her own daughters, who all knew how to bake cookies and cakes by the age of 6.

By the age of 18, she was an accomplished pianist, an avid reader of great literature, and an accomplished card player. She quietly won the hands of Bridge, Heart, and Pinochle while unsuspecting competitors watched their own scores move in the opposite direction.

The dark-haired, blue-eyed beauty was noticed by Bruce Parker, also Everett, on an ice rink when she was in high school. When she graduated in 1943, they were engaged to be married. He shipped out a month later to serve in World War II while she moved to the University of Washington and graduated with a degree in journalism in 1947.

Shirley and Bruce married later that summer, the beginning of a 71-year partnership. They settled in Mount Vernon in 1950, where they taught school and raised five daughters
– Linda, Laura Jo, Julie, Rebecca and Susan.

Before the San Juan Islands became a tourist destination, Shirley and Bruce bought a lot on Lopez Island in 1966 and built a cabin. In 1974 they exchanged for a piece of land on the beach and built a slightly larger hut. There the family enjoyed many summers with boating, fishing, crab fishing, pancake breakfasts, salmon barbecues, and lazy days on the deck watching the tide go out.

Nothing was more important to Shirley than family. When she started teaching in 1965, her main goal was to ensure that her daughters received a college education. It started with fourth graders and ended 20 years later with students of English and journalism.

At home she taught us how to cook and sew, but also encouraged us to develop other skills and interests. Our childhood was full of art, ballet, music, and swimming lessons, as well as trips to ocean beaches, zoos, museums, and scientific exhibitions.

We ski, camp, hike, and sail, inspect the giant turbines at Grand Coulee Dam, and skip school to hear President Johnson speak at Peace Arch.

Shirley was naturally shy and reserved. An old family photo shows an exuberant moment when, at the age of 60, she stands outside Notre Dame in Paris and is dizzy just to be there. After the trip, she enrolled for French classes and for a while the kitchen was plastered with sticky notes of French words for various items – in preparation for an eventual return to France.

In retrospect, the French class was completely characteristic of their approach to life. Childhood activities should broaden our horizons and provide us with opportunities beyond the confines of small-town life. She never explained that back then. Only years later did we realize the gift we had received. She gave us the world.

Before Shirley, her husband Bruce, daughter Susan, son-in-law William Prochnau, and sisters Barbara Allan and Ellen Metcalfe died. She is survived by daughters Linda, Laura Jo, Julie and Rebecca, sons-in-law Fred Gray and Bruce Amundson, her cousin Carol Labbe, four nieces, three nephews and their families.

Reminders in Shirley’s name can be directed to the Catherine Washburn Memorial Association, PO Box 309, Lopez Island, WA 98261.

Published by Skagit Valley Herald May 11-12, 2021.