Betty Joe Parks

Betty Joe Parks, 92, of Puxico, Missouri, died Tuesday, December 5, 2023, in hospice at her home, surrounded by loved ones. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 15, 2023, at Jay B Smith Funeral Home, 7456 Manchester Road, St. Louis, MO 63143. A commencement burial will follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday, December 14, 2023, From 4:00-8:00 p.m., at Jay B Smith Funeral Home in Maplewood, MO. Betty Joe was born October 29, 1931, the daughter of Emerson & Bertha (Akers) Kitchen, and grew up on a tobacco farm outside Puxico, Missouri. On June 25, 1947, Betty Joe married Leslie George Parks, Jr., and created a full life together bringing up five (5) children of their own. Mickey Hale, Enos (Ruby) (Janie) Parks, Bruce (Sharon) Parks, Pamela (Larry) Lane, and Leslie G. (Bonnie Powell) Parks, III. Also left to cherish every memory Betty Joe created are her 45 plus and counting Grandchildren who so loved time with their grandma (Gigi). She was with her beloved husband Les, who provided a life for his family serving in the United States Army, as a mechanic, and a tax & painting company owner. He passed December 13, 1993, in Maplewood, MO and Betty Joe never remarried. Betty Joe contributed to the family working at Wallace Pencil Company and Roman Jewelry until retirement. Along the way she made friends with co-workers and enjoyed her bowling league playing at Red Bird Lanes & Tropicana Bowling Alley. Betty Joe was a crossword puzzle enthusiast, a master of “Scrabble”, a daily game show watcher, and enjoyed her “stories” watching her soap operas for nearly 50 years. She was a die-hard Cardinals fan and watched countless games with her family over the decades. She was perhaps most recognized for her tidy home, simple but delicious home cooked meals and hosting of the holidays. No one was a stranger to the table at Betty’s. She hosted all the family holidays baking delicious pies & cakes, potato candy, peanut brittle and cookies from the crack of dawn. It was a true delight to take any deserts home from Betty Joe’s gatherings. She relished attending the Puxico Homecomings and family reunions with five generations of the family. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and siblings with one remaining widowed sister, Marvin (Charles) Beaudean, residing in Sikeston, MO. Her life was rich when poor. She gave when she had little to give. She loved as though you were her only loved one. She was true & honest. She forgave often even at her own demise. She taught life lessons with no instruction. She was the matriarch, the foundation of her family, and will forever be loved and missed, as her role can never be filled.

Betty Joe Parks

October 29, 1931 - December 5, 2023