Alice Lavada Parrish

Dec. 8, 1932– Feb. 3, 2024

Alice Lavada Parrish was born on December 8, 1932, and at 91 years young, stepped into the arms of Jesus with her beloved Richard next in line to welcome her Home on February 3, 2024. She was born in Anadarko, OK to Elza and Alice Ratliff. Lavada married Richard Parrish on December 29, 1952, and together they raised three children, Ricki, Dale, and Cindy.

Lavada grew up in her small rural community of Ft. Cobb, OK surrounded by her six siblings and a host of double cousins in a large, extended family devoted to loving each other, working hard, and serving others. She graduated from Ft. Cobb High School, then attended and graduated from Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha, OK. In the early years after marriage, she worked as a social worker for the Grady County Welfare Department.

During a three-year stint living in Lubbock, TX, she began a public

education career that spanned over twenty years first teaching fourth grade in Lubbock, then teaching seventh and eighth grade English in Cordell, OK where she and Richard made their home for over fifty years. Multiple generations of Cordell families know the story of Evangeline, how to diagram a sentence, and the use of proper verb tenses through some of the lessons she drilled in her classroom. She was a no-nonsense classroom manager, and her students loved her.

During summers, Richard and Lavada traipsed across the country on a BMW motorcycle pulling a tent trailer where adventures awaited, such as the Alaskan Highway, Scotty’s Castle, and living it up on a Grand Canyon trail via donkeys. After retiring from teaching and once she could bully Richard into also “retiring”, she enjoyed life traveling a step up in their RV Coach and beginning a volunteer career through the Texas State Park system. At LBJ and Lockhart State Parks, she was blessed with a new group of long-time friendships; staying in touch with these folks truly made her heart happy.

Folloing the heavenly homegoing of her husband, with heels dug in but children tugging hard, she relocated to the Oklahoma City area in 2018 where she extended her beautiful influence in the lives of new friend circles at the Southern Plaza Retirement Community, the Okie Motion Exercise Group, then Infinite Care Homes. Lavada was known for her beautiful stitchery, a tender yet powerful written word, and love for her kids, family, community, and the Lord. Her strong faith was her Strength and Refuge.

Lavada is survived by her three children, Ricki Robertson (Jim), Dale Parrish (Lee Ann), and Cindy Harris; grandchildren, Chris Robertson (Kelli), Craig Robertson (Amanda), Ryan Robertson, Meagan Meadows, McKynna Fuentes (Bryan), Luca Warde, and Zach Harris (Linda); great-grandchildren, Molly and Macy Robertson, Jasper and Malachi Meadows, Ren, Grayson, Jensen, and Elia Fuentes, and Aleksandr Harris; sister, Gladys Watkins; brother-in-law, Cloyd Parrish (Judy); and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members, and countless friends to whom she so easily endeared herself.

Lavada’s family gives special thanks with hearts full of gratitude especially to her longtime and sweet pen pal, Gail Eaton; her faithful Nurse Practitioner, Christine Hauck; Nurse Niaz Ahdu and staff of Infinite Care Homes; her helper and companion, Heather Berry; and her number one fan, Travis Powers.

Funeral services will be conducted at First Baptist Church in Cordell, OK on Wednesday, February 7 at 11:00 am followed by a brief graveside time at the Lawnview Cemetery, also in Cordell.

For those wishing to honor Lavada’s memory, the family suggests a donation to Infinite Care Homes, c/o Niaz Ahdu, 11200 Lerida Lane, Oklahoma City, OK 73173. To share a memory or condolence, visit www. mercer-adams.com