Joyce Arlene Parkey (Plainview)

Joyce Arelene Parkey, who had been a long time resident of Hale Center, passed away on Sunday, December 18, 2022 in Harlingen, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Friday, January 6, 2023 at the First Baptist Church in Hale Center with Rev. Taylor Smith officiating. Burial will follow at the Hale Center Cemetery under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Plainview. Joyce was born in Anadarko, Oklahoma on October 24, 1930 to Paul Sylvester and Elsie Mae Carter. She enjoyed her childhood in Anadarko, which is the Native American Capitol of the US, and graduated from Anadarko High School. On May 9th, 1952 she married Taylor J. Parkey of Anadarko, and moved to California where he was deployed in the Navy. They had 2 children. Later they moved to Texas, living in Alvord and Rhea Community (Friona) before finally moving to Hale Center in 1965. In 2019, she moved to Harlingen to live with her daughter. Joyce had a lifelong interest in Native American history and stories. She enjoyed family genealogy, especially researching the life of her great-grandfather, CL (Kit) Carter, who served as a founder and the first president of the Texas Cattle Raisers Association. Additionally, Joyce was an avid reader, square dancer, and an accomplished oil painter. She loved spending time with members of her family who enjoyed her cooking and hospitality. Joyce was a very organized person, and enjoyed working in medical records for a hospital, then for a doctor’s office in Plainview. Later she worked as a secretary in the department of Child Welfare, and then for the Texas Rehabilitation Commission before retiring. Joyce is survived by her daughter, Gail L. Cantu of Harlingen, and Gail’s children, Krista Bañuelos and Keith Cantù. Madeline Bañuelos, Judah Bañuelos, and Eddie Cantù are Joyce’s great-grandchildren from this line. She is predeceased by her son, Terry Parkey, who died in March of this year. He and his wife, Bobbie Parkey of Abernathy, were parents of her grandchildren, Terry Parkey, Jr. and Cory Parkey. Cory and wife Courtney, are parents of her great-grandchildren, Zephyr and Abigail Parkey. The family suggests memorials be sent to Hale Center Senior Citizens, 416 W 2nd St, HaleCenter, TX 79041 (Phone: 806-292-9877). They are a non-profit organization that meets the needs of homebound individuals with home delivered meals 5 days a week.