Mary Lou Parks

Mary Lou Parks (Hartshorn) went to be with the Lord early in the morning on March 17, 2018, surrounded by family in her home on Baldwin Lake in Union, Mich.

Mary Lou lived there most of her life, first as a child and later with her own husband and family. She took pride in the history of her home, which was once called Greystone Lodge, where visitors came to fish and rest.

Mary Lou traveled the world during her life, first to Geneva, Switzerland as a Northwestern University French student, among the first group of exchange students to travel to Europe after World War II. She remained stateside as a stewardess for Trans World Airline (TWA), where she met Weldon Parks, a dispatcher for the airline. They married and continued their travels with their three children. France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg were frequent destinations.

When their children grew and left home, Mary Lou and Weldon continued their exploration of the world on cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean, and the Panama Canal, with friends to Hawaii and China, and together to Singapore and Thailand. Mary Lou cherished these experiences and shared stories from each. With smiles, she often spoke about her mother and grandmother, whom she dearly loved.

In the end, Mary Lou and Weldon returned to the lake and spent their days looking onto its peaceful waters. Family and friends travelled to them, always welcomed with open ears and stories of their own.

Mary Lou was born to Paul and Helen in 1926 in Evanston, Illinois. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 61 years Weldon, and her grandson Christopher John Martin. She is survived by her three children Susan (and Doug) Nadeau, Cathy (and Don) Martin, and Paul Parks, her grandchildren Jennifer Vechinsky, Peter Nadeau, David Parks, Alisha Lowe, and Kyla Carnerio, and three great grandchildren.

Visitation will be Tuesday, March 20 from 1-2 pm, followed by the service at 2 pm at the Bristol United Methodist Church, where she was a life-long, beloved member.

Memorials may be made out to Bristol United Methodist Church. Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com.