Beth Parker Winn

Mittie Elizabeth Parker Winn passed away on September 27, 2023 in Plano, TX.

Mittie Elizabeth Parker was born October 16, 1932, to Ernest Newby Parker and Eula Leon Beauchamp Parker, in Ivanhoe Texas. She was raised in Ivanhoe and attended public school there. In 1947, after her father died, Leon moved she and MittieBeth to Bonham Tx where MittieBeth later graduated from Bonham High School. After high school, MittieBeth (who became known as Beth in her adult years) went to Commerce, Tx and attended East Texas State Teacher's College (now Texas A&M at Commerce). It was here that she met Jack Lane Winn, and they married in Bonham on May 31,1952. Beth graduated from ETSTC in May 1954 with a degree in Home Economics. Jack and Beth had a daughter, Elizabeth Jean, born on April 23, 1953, in Commerce, and a son, Dan Parker, born on December 18, 1959, in Dallas. They settled in Dallas where Jack was the Assistant Manager of the SMU Bookstore, and after several years they returned to Commerce when Jack became the Manager of the ET Bookstore. They loved it in Commerce and were long associated with the university, until his retirement. They attended almost all the ET football games and hosted many university events. They eventually built their dream home on Maloy Rd, in Commerce, out of the city limits and on some small acreage. After retirement, Beth and Jack were avid cruisers and received many "mileage awards" from Holland America Cruise Lines which was their line of choice. They thoroughly enjoyed trips to Alaska, the Panama Canal, South America, Caribbean, Hawaii, Spain, Italy, France, Russia, and smaller stops along the way. They were blessed with amazing sites in their senior years. Beth was into crafting, making many beautiful items for friends and family, including her stuffed and highly decorated Santa Claus' décor. She also loved making quilts; many being made from fabrics collected around the world on her cruising trips. Jack once laughingly said they were the only couple on Holland America who would miss an excursion so she could find fabric!

Beth was preceded in death by her doting husband, Jack, and her parents, Ernest and Leon Parker, along with many aunts, uncles and dear friends.

She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Stephens, her son, Dan Winn, her daughter in law Kelly Smith Winn, and her granddaughter McKayla Lane Winn. She is also survived by her cousins, Marvin and Jonelle Parker Osburn of Millbrae California.

A private burial will be held at the Bettes Cemetery in Ivanhoe, Texas.