Obituary of Michele Parker

Michele Parker had a knack for lighting up a room, and when she passed on Saturday, March 18, 2023, there’s no doubt heaven became a little bit brighter with her presence. Michele was born May 26, 1942, in San Jose, Ca. to Barbara and William Coy. Growing up, she enjoyed taking care of her little brother Robbie, and spending long summer days with her best friend Pat Fields. Michele was extremely close to her grandparents, Elizabeth and Horace Cureton. She spent time with them at their ranch in San Fernando Valley, where she loved riding their horses, Sugar and Taffy. Throughout her life, Michele was known for her nurturing spirit, her loyalty, warmth and for her work ethic. After graduating from Willow Glen High School (1960), she started working at the phone company (then known as Pacific Bell) while taking classes part time at San Jose University. She built a successful 45-year career with AT&T, ascending from telephone operator to customer facing sales and marketing roles. She was proud of her career, and shared the advice to “Rely on yourself,” a hallmark of her independent spirit. Michele was married twice, to Paul Ashby and David Parker. She had a daughter, Elizabeth, with Paul, and another, Holly, with David. Michele and David loved each other deeply, they were married 38 years, and they built a “Brady-bunch” style family. David’s children from a previous marriage, Jeff, Jennifer and Julie, blended with Liz and Holly to make for a full house of five children during the summers. David and Michele enjoyed sailing around the bay, even when they ran aground or boomed Jeff off the boat. They also were avid 49er fans, season ticket holders, and frequent tailgaters. Michele proudly wore her cowboy hat adorned with Niner flair, including her favorite, “Piss on the Rams” button. As she neared retirement, Michele and David moved to La Selva Beach, to her grandparents’ former home. After working from “the Eagles Nest” for a few years she retired and spent time gardening, antiquing, and taking motorhome trips. Following David’s death in 2009, she remained there, with her dog Wally and later, Finley. She devoted her time to caring for her family, spending time with her good friends and neighbors, and traveling on occasion. She always made time for her grandchildren, attending school functions and sports events. Michele was an entertainer through and through, from Thursday night “schlookel” cocktail nights to wickedly competitive egg hunts for her grandkids at Easter, she loved gathering family and friends. Her warmth and generosity of time and energy will be remembered by all she knew. Michele is survived by her daughters Liz and Holly, her Aunt Lois Coy, her stepchildren Jeff, Jennifer, and Julie, and her grandchildren Alecia, Alex, Ashtyn, Casey, Charlotte, Emily, Rochelle, Travis and Weston, as well as many friends who cared for her very much. We will celebrate Michele’s life on June 17 at 1pm at La Selva Beach Community Church. If you knew Michele, you knew how much she loved animals. In that spirit, in lieu of flowers, friends can make contributions in her memory to the Santa Cruz SPCA.