Kay Parkins

Kay Parkins, age 75, went home to be with the Lord Thursday afternoon, March 17th, 2011, at her home in Grants Pass.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, April 8th, at Faith Baptist Church, 3405 Williams Highway in Grants Pass. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Child Evangelism Fellowship, P.O. Box 755, Grants Pass, OR 97528, or Faith Baptist Church, 3405 Williams Highway, Grants Pass, OR 97527.

Kay was born February 4th, 1936, in Grants Pass, Oregon, the second of three children born to F.R. “Buster” and Jane Williams. As a young girl, she lived in Hilt, Susanville and Janesville, California, as well as Melrose, Oregon. The family eventually settled in Wimer, where she spent her formative years on the ranch her great-grandparents had homesteaded. She grew up milking cows, shocking hay, herding cattle, and helping her mother with the household chores. Ranch life taught her and her brothers the value of working hard, and how to get their chores done quickly and efficiently, so there would be more time for riding horses and swimming with friends in Evans Creek on hot summer afternoons. Kay attended school in Wimer and Rogue River. As a Senior, she was voted Rogue River High School’s Homecoming Queen. She graduated with the Class of 1954.

In the years following graduation, Kay worked a variety of jobs, and did some traveling. She spent 3-1/2 years at Mann’s Department Store in Medford, worked as an assistant bookkeeper for Crater Plywood, and was preparing to take a job as stewardess with United Airlines when Bob Parkins asked her to marry him. Although an airline job was a life-long dream, she never regretted choosing Bob over the Friendly Skies!

In 1961, Kay married Bob Parkins, of Grants Pass. In the early 70s, they purchased a Mr. Swiss restaurant franchise, which they opened in the A-frame building on “E” street in Grants Pass, where Jimmy’s Drive In is today. A short time after opening the restaurant, the Mr. Swiss chain began to decline, so Bob and Kay went independent, and changed the name to The Cave In. They owned the restaurant for twelve enjoyable years. Their children, Scott and Shelly, worked there throughout their high school years, along with several of their friends. The “family atmosphere” was contagious, as many of the other employees and frequent customers soon became “part of the family”. After selling The Cave In early in the 80s, Bob began working as a long-haul truck driver, and Kay enjoyed riding with him whenever possible. She also worked in the Grants Pass office of Child Evangelism Fellowship for several years during the late 80s – early 90s.

Kay loved the Lord with all her heart, and had a passion for working with kids. She was active in Child Evangelism Fellowship for 46 years, serving as teacher and supervisor for Good News Clubs in many local elementary and middle schools over the years. Most recently, she supervised and taught at Allendale, while also teaching at Fort Vannoy. Kay also worked in CEF’s booths at the Josephine County Fair, Rooster Crow and Pottsville, and taught at summer overnight and day camps.

Together with Bob, she served as a committee member on Child Evangelism’s State Board, and they also served together as Directors of Child Evangelism’s Josephine District for a number of years.

Kay is survived by son Scott Parkins of Grants Pass, daughter Shelly Wager and her husband, Brian, of Medford, three grandchildren, Rylee, Chase and Cade Wager, all of Medford; older brother Bruce Williams, of Portland, and younger brother Craig “Windy” Williams, of Lake Oswego, Oregon.

Kay was preceded in death by nine months by her beloved husband, Bob, as well as her father and mother, Buster and Jane Williams, three nephews and a niece.