Jimmie Nell Parker

Jimmie Nell Parker, age 95, passed away on July 19, 2024 in Cedar Park, Texas. She was born on April 1, 1929 in Avery, Texas to William and Opal Holcombe. After graduating from Lamesa High School in 1946, she worked at the Dawson County Veterans Services. Here she helped World War II veterans with their terminal leave pay and benefits. She married Hollis E. Parker on October 31, 1948 and they spent the next nine years in Arizona where Hollis was employed by El Paso Natural Gas. Hollis was transferred to Odessa in 1956 where they built their forever home and raised three children.

Jimmie Nell loved gardening, cooking, sewing and learning. At 35, she returned to college and graduated from Sul Ross University with highest honors. She taught Biology at Permian High and Life Science at Crockett Junior High in Odessa. While teaching, she earned a master’s degree from UTPB. She was a counselor at Ector and Odessa High and was known for having an open-door policy for any student looking for help—whether they were working on a college application, reviewing a paper, or seeking guidance in their lives. She retired in 1989 from ECISD after 20 years.

She and her loving husband Hollis were married 65 years before his passing in 2014. She is also preceded in death by their son Joe Pat and daughter-in-law Barbara. She is survived by a son, Rod, a daughter, Pam and husband Richard Wortham and sister, Janet Hitt. Grandchildren are Lindsey and husband Heath Hines, Erin and wife Nicole Wortham, Lori and husband Pavan Thakran, Bryan and wife Sarah Parker. Great Grandchildren include Hayden, Cooper and Hallie Hines, Ethen and Asha Thakran, Scout Wortham and Jackson Parker.

A viewing will be Thursday, July 25, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. Graveside services are Friday, July 26, 2024, at 10:00 am at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the American Cancer Society, Odessa Chapter.