Merion Parks

She was born Jan. 20, 1922, in Dyersburg, Tennessee, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Spence Sr., The widow of W. Hamilton Parks II, she was a homemaker and a true Southern Lady.
She and Hamilton were married for 65 years and were active members of Trimble Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Merion also enjoyed her membership in the Key Corner Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the National Society of the Colonial Dames and XVII Century.
Merion loved and appreciated each new day. She especially loved gardening, nature and cooking for family and friends. Her generous spirit, caring heart and kind nature touched many lives through the years. She truly served as an extension of God’s love and exemplified Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Merion is survived by her son, William H. Parks III (Lorri) of Spokane, Wash.; her daughter, Virginia (Parks) Williamson, and her husband, Felix Earl Williamson III.
She was preceded in death by her husband, W. Hamilton Parks II, and their son, R.E. Lee Parks.
Merion also leaves her grandchildren, Edward Parks Williamson, Sarah Spence Williamson and Andrew Hamilton Williamson. She is survived by three sisters, Betty Lowery and Sandra Spence, both of Dyersburg, and Doris Sanders of Newbern; and her sister-in-law, Caroline (Parks) Harris of Los Angeles, California. She is also survived by her brothers, Dr. John Spence (Alpha) of Monroe, Louisiana, and Collie M. Spence Jr. of Smyrna, Tennessee.
Graveside services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Parks plot in Pierce Cemetery in Trimble. The Rev. Donnie Ragsdale will officiate and honorary pallbearers will be David Ring, Jerry Ring, Steve Smith, Robert LaRue, Bill Homra, Albert Markham, Bill Foster, Allen Nohsey and Ricky Whitson.
White-Ranson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Hamilton Parks Public Library, 74 Parks Plaza, Trimble, TN 38259; the Community Cancer Fund, P.O. Box 1055, Dyersburg, TN 38024; or to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Condolences may be sent to the family at the funeral home website: www.white-ranson.com.