Marilyn Kay Parker

Our beloved mother, Marilyn Kay Alt Parker, passed away peacefully on September 25, 2025 surrounded by family and loved ones after a long and valiant battle with Alzheimer’s Dementia.

She was born on November 18, 1934 to Charles Louis Alt and Mary Myron Kinney in Orange, California. She spent her early years exploring the area around the family’s resort in Green Valley Lake with her younger sister JoAnne. The family also lived in Redlands and San Bernardino, California. In 1948, they moved to Carmichael, California where they lived when Mom went to San Juan High School and met the love of her life, Allen B Parker. They were married on June 14,1953, a few days after high school graduation. They were sealed together for time and eternity on October 31,1959 in the Los Angeles Temple.

They made their home in Carmichael for most of their married life. Marilyn worked as a dental assistant until her first child, Wayne was born. 3 years later, Cheryl was born, and Dodie joined the family 3 years after that. Mom was a homemaker for most of her life. She managed the house on Dad’s income as a California Highway Patrolman and a variety of part-time jobs. They worked and saved together to make a joyful, happy home. Mom was the queen of casseroles, and could make a half pound of hamburger feed all 5 of us!

As her children reached teenage years, Marilyn worked as a lecturer for Weight Watchers to help support increasing costs of braces, missions, and future college for her children. The flexible schedule allowed her to still be at home when her children got home from school. People chose her classes because of her ability to bring in positive mental attitudes in her lectures about creating healthier habits. She wrote and delivered the lectures all from her own resources and ideas. She became a skilled and engaging speaker and teacher. Later, she enjoyed working at the LDS bookstore, which eventually became a Deseret Bookstore in nearby Citrus Heights. For a while, she also volunteered with the local Better Business Bureau to help mediate disputes between customers and car dealerships. Marilyn was an avid reader, and especially loved reading books related to gospel topics and words of prophets and apostles.

She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and loved serving her neighbors as well as her ward and stake family. She was a Primary president in the ward and then the stake for longer than any of her children were in Primary. She would regularly pick up several children in the ward and get them to Primary when it was held after school on weekdays. She also served in the stake Young Women presidency as well as ward Relief Society president. She often said that her favorite calling, though, was that of ward Relief Society teacher. She loved the sisters in the ward and thoroughly enjoyed sharing gospel principles and encouragement with them in Relief Society meetings.

After moving to Payson, Utah to be near their children and grandchildren, Marilyn and Al served as temple workers in the first Provo temple. She found so much peace and joy in serving this way, and would often share her insights and her testimony of temple work with her family. She served in the Relief Society presidency while in the Payson 11th ward, and came to know and love the members of that ward. The best evidence of Marilyn’s testimony of the Savior was evidenced through her actions. She demonstrated faithfulness and commitment to the Lord in everything she did.

The last 3 years of her life were spent at Spring Gardens of Mapleton in the memory care wing. While there, she became a favorite of the CNA staff and the branch leadership because of her bright smile and her happy countenance regardless of the struggles she had with dementia and Parkinson’s. She served everyone around her by showing a beautiful spirit to uplift and cheer them.

Marilyn is survived by her sister, JoAnne Jensen of Carmichael, California; her three children, Wayne (Julie Ann) Parker of Provo Utah, Cheryl Parker of Springville Utah, and Dodie Parker of Payson Utah. She loved and cherished each of her grandchildren Spencer (Sonrisa) Parker, Alycia (Kyle) May, Kara (Casey) Monsen, Taylor (Katelyn) Parker, Grant Parker, Robert Winfree, Charles Winfree, Alexander (Aspen) Winfree, David Winfree, Nikki (Lance) Harris-Douglas, Jessica Harris, Misty Harris, and Tiffany Barnes, as well as 20 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her eternal companion, Al, as well as her parents, Charles and Mary, and her older siblings from her father’s prior marriages Nellie, Violet, Bonnie, Dorothy, Charles, and Cleopha. What a joyful reunion they must have had!

Services will be held on Thursday October 2, 2025 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints chapel at 902 West 400 North in Payson, Utah. Viewing will be from 9:30 - 10:45 am with services beginning at 11:00 am. Interment to follow at Payson City Cemetery.

Marilyn’s family would like to extend our most heartfelt gratitude to Bonnie Ballard at iCare, and the staff at Spring Gardens of Mapleton, especially those who worked in memory care. The individual names are too numerous to list here, but you know who you are! Your tender care of our mother was exemplary. Your love for her made it somehow bearable for us to turn over her daily care to you when we could no longer do it.

To leave condolences, visit www.legacyfunerals.com