Mary Ann Parker

Mary Ann Entenman Parker, age 85 passed away June 10, 2015 at her home in the care of her loving family.  Mary Ann was a beloved mother, grandmother, aunt and friend who lived a full life, rich with love and generosity to others.  Her strong faith and commitment to her family took precedent, followed closely by her loyalty as a friend and leader in community service organizations. She was born Mary Ann Entenman to the late Maude Wilma and Fredrick William Entenman, November 21, 1929 on Oakwood in Toledo as a depression baby.  Energy abounding, she loved to roller skate, run track and cheerlead while maintaining good status on the honor roll at Horace Mann and Whitmer High School, class of 1947.  Mary Anns work ethic was established early, working at her fathers side assembling ammunition boxes for the U.S. Military during WWII.  She continued working for her fathers construction company, Fred W. Entenman, Inc. as a teen keeping books and performing secretarial duties.  Mary Ann worked to help manage the office after marriage until both her children were born. Mary Ann married Billy L. Parker on November 19, 1948 and raised two children, Thomas Lee and Constance Lynn. Never afraid of hard work, Mary Ann pushed a wheelbarrow while pregnant to help Bill build their first home at 2123 Eileen Rd.  Even though she was an active mother and housewife, serving as room mother for both children and vice-president of Glann School Mothers Club, she always found time to fill multiple roles in her church.  She sang in the choir, taught Sunday school and established a community Summer Bible School, directing several hundred children. She helped plant a mission church and became superintendent of the Junior Department’s Sunday school program at Zion E.U.B.  Reaching out to other faiths, Mary Ann sat on the committee that established the first Ecumenical Church Council in Toledo. Mary Ann and Bill moved to Waterville in 1967 where she continued to serve her community. She was officer and president of Miami Childrens Guild for 15 years, member of Mobile Meals, and board member on the Waterville Chamber of Commerce, where she helped plan signage for the town entrance.  She was an active member of the Waterville Historical Society for nearly four decades serving 6 years as president, 2 as past-president, and as docent and Curator of the Sargent and Robbins House Museums.  She was chairperson on the committee developing the first Roche De Boeuf Festival for Waterville in the 80’s, later pursuing local artisans to participate in the Lost Arts exhibit near the museums. Mary Ann was instrumental in the purchase, renovation, and maintenance of all three museums.  Her dedication led to becoming the first woman selected to be Waterville’s Citizen of the Year, as well as receiving the honor of leading the 2014 RDB Parade in the Grand Marshall car with WHS President and friend Jim Conrad.  Numerous other organizations representing her love of faith, history, nature, art, and conservative ideals have benefited from her generosity. A supportive wife to Billy and the family construction firm, McKinnon Parker, Inc., Mary Ann entertained frequently and traveled extensively to destinations such as Hawaii, Spain, and Italy with the state and national American General Contractors Association.  She was chairperson of the Ohio AGC committee which determined the National AGC Convention Womens activities.  Their travels around the world gave opportunity to meet presidents and princes.  Mary Ann not only was supportive of Bill in his work but also in his play.  She accompanied him on many trips for pleasure, including Alaska, China, and Mexico.  She copiloted their fishing boat from their cottage on Lake Erie, entertained the hunters at the Goose Camp, rode horses to herd cattle in Colorado, and came nose to nose with a bear while hunting in Wyoming.  Those who knew her as a lady in leadership were always amazed at her adventurous spirit.   When it came time to relax, her favorite retreat was her home on Anna Maria Island walking the beach on the Gulf with her family and friends. Mary Ann was a woman of great capacity, who worked hard, played hard, loved deeply and shared her time and talents with many.  Each of her six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren will attest that they felt loved as if they were her own child.  She is survived by her son, Thomas L. (Peggy) Parker; daughter, Constance L. (Chris) Kreft; grandchildren, Michael K. (Abbey) Sachs, William L. Parker (Carol Pfund), Meredith L. Parker, Rachel L. (Brian) Bell, Sabrina A. (Greg) Wistain, and Nicholas A. (Rachael) Kreft; 10 great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Audrey Entenman.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Lee Parker; brother, Donald F. Entenman; and sister, Geneva Flickinger. Visitation will be Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. in the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave. (west of Corey Rd.).  Funeral services will begin at 10:00 a.m., Monday, June 15, 2015 at Waterville United Methodist Church, 102 N 5th St, Waterville, OH 43566.  Interment Ottawa Hills Memorial Park. Memorials are suggested to the Waterville Historical Society or Hospice of Northwest Ohio.