Mary Eileen Parks

Mary Eileen Parks, 89, of Huntsville, formerly of South Bend, passed away Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006, after a short illness.

Born in Marion, Ind., she was the daughter of Ralph and Josephine Willis. She graduated from Anderson High School in 1935. She was a graduate of the Indiana University School of Nursing, becoming a registered nurse. After years of night school, she earned her B.S. degree from Bethel College, and an M.S. degree from Indiana University.

Eileen met Galen Parks in Indianapolis while she was in nursing school. They married on Sept. 10, 1939, and lived in Indianapolis, Frankfort, and South Bend.

Eileen was a registered nurse for 50 years. Her nursing career started at IU Medical Center in Indianapolis. She was a head nurse at Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, for six years until she was persuaded by Dr. Russell Sage, ENT, to assist in his office practice. She worked at Clinton County Hospital after she and her husband moved to Frankfort. After their transfer to South Bend, Eileen was a homemaker for one year, but re-entered the nursing profession due to the early death of her husband.

At this point in her career she began employment as an industrial nurse, working at Rockwell Standard in Mishawaka, Ind., and National Standard, Niles, Mich. Her career took a different path in July 1966 when she was given the opportunity to fulfill her life’s dream to be a health educator. She was asked to start the nursing program at Southwestern Michigan College, Dowagiac, Mich., from which she retired in December 1985, as Dean of Allied Health.

Eileen was a member of the League of Nursing.

She enjoyed her family and friends, and shared her enthusiasm for just about everything with those around her. She was a member of Altrusa International, having served as past president of the South Bend chapter and member of the Huntsville chapter. She was a member and past president of Psi Iota Xi in South Bend and a member of the American Federation of Women’s Organizations in South Bend, serving as president of the Progress Club, and member of the Huntsville chapter, du Midi. In both South Bend and Huntsville, she was a member of the American Association of University Women, participating in the literature and bridge groups. She was also a member of the Music Club.

Eileen was raised in the Methodist Church. Upon her marriage she became a life long member of the First Christian Church in Frankfort, South Bend, and Huntsville, and was a member of the Martha Circle.

Surviving are two daughters, Beverly P. Cannon (husband: James) of Huntsville and Janet P. Lewis (husband: Michael K.) of Eatonton, Ga., and grandchildren Colleen Cannon, and Joseph and Andrew Rodriguez; and a brother Charles Willis (wife: Genevieve) of Paris, Il.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Galen L. Parks, and Michael P. Lewis.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. The funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the First Christian Church in Huntsville.

Local services were held Tuesday at the Flora First Christian Church with one hour of viewing at the church prior to the service. Burial was at Maple Lawn Cemetery, Flora. Reinke Funeral Home, Flora, was in charge of local arrangements.

The family requests that in lieu of sending flowers that donations may be made in the memory of Eileen to the Indiana School of Nursing, or to a nursing school of the donor’s choice, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

The family thanks all medical professionals who treated Eileen over the past years, with a special thank you to Dr. David Huff.