Corene Parker

Corene Cowan Parker died in Provo, Utah on November 30, 2015 of Alzheimers, surrounded by her family. She married Douglas Parker, who survives her, in the Salt Lake Temple on December 15th, 1950. Their love affair covered 65 years of indescribable devotion and joy. Together they had seven children, Bradley (Valorie), Clay (Debbie), Gail (Ric Tolboe), Lorrie (Dave Porter), Blair (Cheryl), Chase (Laurel) and Janice (John Quinlan). To these seven children have been added 36 grandchildren and 42 great grandchildren. Corene was born August 10, 1929 in Salt Lake City, the only child of Florence Cole Cowan and Stellman Earl Cowan. Her great grandfather William Cole was an 1847 Utah pioneer. Following graduation from Salt Lake City's East High School, she obtained a Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Utah in 1950, the year she met and married Doug, who was then in his second year of law school. Corene and Doug (who spent his entire career as a professor of law) lived for extended periods of time in Israel, Austria, Estonia, and a year teaching English to post-graduate physicians at Shandong Medical University in Jinan, China where Corene was honored and recognized as a distinguished foreign teacher of both Doctorate and Masters degree courses. She was the delight and love of her Chinese students. Active in the LDS church, Corene served as a ward Relief Society president on four different occasions, twice in Boulder Colorado, where she and Doug lived for 22 years, and twice in Provo, Utah. She loved all with whom she served and always gave credit to others for what she accomplished. She was a backpacker, a river runner and an avid downhill and cross cross-country skier, made necessary by two remote mountain cabins she and Doug owned which were accessible in the winter only by skis. Corene was an accomplished seamstress, always helping others with sewing tasks. She made her own wedding dress as well as the wedding dresses of her three daughters. For Corene there was no distinction between weeds and flowers Both were beautiful and existed to be arranged. The ceiling of her garage was filled with hanging weeds and flowers, dried, sprayed just waiting to be arranged and used in the elaborate floral arrangements she readily made for receptions held by friends. Corene was the embodiment of love. Upon greeting people she often placed her hands on their cheeks, drew them close to her and lovingly looked in their eyes. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 5, 2015 at 1:00 pm at the Riverwood Ward Chapel, 303 West 3700 North in Provo. A viewing will be held Friday from 6 to 8 pm at the Sundberg-Olpin Funeral Home, 495 South State Street in Orem and also Saturday from 11:30 to 12:45 at the ward chapel. Interment will be in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

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