Age 69, of Holland – died Monday, 27 Nov 2006 after a long illness. Born and raised in Holland, Ms. Parker was the head of the West Ottawa High School library’s media program from 1970 to 1994, and was responsible for ushering the library into the digital age. In the mid-1980’s Ms. Parker was at the forefront of a drive to modernize the library’s information-processing system for the school’s 80 faculty and 1,500 student assistance of a systems administration crew, she designed and implemented the district library computer program, starting with the purchase of a mainframe and custom automation package. In 1987 she transferred the library’s card catalog to the mainframe. Within five years, she had extended the system to classrooms in the district. In all, 350 classrooms were connected by the new fiber optic network. She assisted the architect in designing the 1987 addition that expanded the library including space for more technology.

She was awarded the National School Library Media Specialist of the Year award in 1994 by the Michigan Association of Educators in Communication Technology.

She served as steering committee chair for the application of the first North Central Assn school accreditation at West Ottawa High School. After leaving West Ottawa, she served as project consultant for WGVU in Grand Rapids.

She earned her bachelor’s degree at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. In 1967, she earned her master’s degree in library science at Case-Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Prior to working at West Ottawa High School, she taught English and worked as a librarian and head librarian at schools in Grand Rapids, Cleveland, and Kirtland, OH. She was a member of Our Lady of the Lake Church and had participated in their outreach program, the Audubon Club, Grand Rapids Humanities Council, and Holland Arts Council.

She leaves a daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth Parker and Leach; grandson, Thayer Leach; and granddaughter, Finley Leach. Also, her close friend, Robert Trepa and his family, Melissa and Randy Jacobusse and sons, Keith and Dillan; Rob Trepa, Timothy Trepa, Kevin Trepa. She is also survived by four sisters, Rita Bazan, Joyce Rogers, Vera Gamso and Joan Kramer, her sister-in-law, Roberta Hindert and numerous nephews and nieces.

Visiting hours will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, 29 November, at the Northwood Chapel Dykstra Funeral Home, 295 Douglas Ave., Holland, MI. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Holland. Burial in Lakeshore Cemetery
(Kalamazoo Gazette, 29 Nov 2006)