Verona Parker

Verona Gale Parker, né Strickland, 76, of Waco, passed away Sunday, April 6, 2025 at Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Hospital in Waco. She was born March 8, 1949, at the old Hillcrest Hospital in Waco. She was preceded in death by her parents, William Clinton Strickland and Loveta Moore Strickland.

Verona grew up in Bellmead, attending La Vega schools, graduating in 1967. She attended McLennan Community College, and during that time and after she worked at several restaurants as waitress/hostess. Later she owned and operated restaurants in Waco and the Temple/Belton area. Her interest in food and nutrition prompted her to go back to school, gaining a degree from Baylor University. She continued her studies at Texas A&M University where she received a Master's in Dietary Science. She was employed for more than twenty years as a registered dietician at the VA Hospital in Waco, with an emphasis on diabetic care. It was there she met her husband, Dr. Claude Parker, MD.

She is survived by her husband; her daughter Holli McGee and husband David of Waco; her three brothers, Dale Strickland and wife Elaine, Dana Strickland and wife Retha, and Galen Strickland, all of the Waco area. She is also survived by her stepchildren with Claude: Andrew Parker and wife Sorcha and their four children of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Pamela Mandarino and husband Joe and their two children of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Also, many nieces, nephews, and cousins, with one surviving uncle, Burney Moore and his wife Mary of Eugene, Oregon.

Verona had long been active in church and community groups. She loved cooking nutritious meals and was an avid gardener. Other activities she enjoyed were in line with her good health goals, frequent walking, yoga and other exercises, and at one time she played pickle ball a lot. One of her more recent hobbies was playing mahjong. She also loved to travel, with several trips to Hawaii, Europe, even Patagonia, and one of her most cherished memories was walking the Camino de Santiago.

Services will be Friday, April 11 at Saint Peter's Catholic Student Center at Baylor, 1415 S. 9th St, Waco, Texas 76706. Visitation starts at 9am, Rosary at 9:30, Mass at 10, with graveside services at Holy Cross Cemetery, 2123 S 5th St. at La Salle, in Waco. Reception will follow at the Bed & Breakfast on White Rock Creek, 267 Ruby Dell Lane, Waco, 76705.