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Mary Lou Parker Aukerman, 85, formerly of DeKalb, Illinois, beloved mother of David Parker of Marquette, Michigan, Richard Parker of Haines City, Florida, and Andrea Parker Simpson of Cincinnati, Ohio, died Thursday, February 23, 2012, at Otterbein-Lebanon Retirement Community in Lebanon, Ohio.
Mary Lou was the cherished daughter of J.A. “Art” and Maryette Spickerman and sister of Janette (Spickerman) Sayre. She was born July 13, 1926, and raised in DeKalb, where she attended McMurray Laboratory School and DeKalb Township High School.She was active in many clubs and organizations. She attended Carleton College in Minnesota and later Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, where she graduated with a degree in education in 1949. Mary Lou earned her master’s degree and later her Ed.D. in education in 1977. She taught for many years in DeKalb community schools and also at Berea College in Berea, Kentucky. In 1949, she married James R. Parker (now deceased) of Sycamore. Later in life, she married James “Byron” Aukerman(now deceased) of Glen Ellyn.
Mary Lou will be remembered for her passion for community service and children through her involvement with many different types of organizations. She was active as a leader in many civic and church organizations, including AAUW, Altrusa, DeKalbWomen’s Club, Drama Club, Children’s Community Theater, Cub Scout and Girl Scouts leadership, and DeKalb County Mental Health Association. She was a life-long member of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, DeKalb, and was always ready to serve. She will be fondly missed by her friends and former students whose lives she touched through her engaging friendliness and sweet nature.
Mary Lou also enjoyed travelling to far-off places, but her favorite place to visit was the family cabin on Butternut Lake, Wisconsin. There she enjoyed many years of walking through the North Woods of Wisconsin with her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed swimming, fly-fishing in the trout streams and canoe rides to watch the beautiful sunsets across the water. Mary Lou was also passionate about her dogs, her favorite sports car, and walking. She was an accomplished race walker and won many events at Senior Olympics track competitions.
Also left to cherish her memory are eight grandchildren, Christian Parker, Elissa Parker, Daniel (Lisa) Parker, Aimee (BJ) Weed, Jason (Jessica) Parker, Robert Simpson, Bradley Simpson and Matthew Simpson. Mary Lou also had one great-grandchild,Gracielou Weed; and daughters-in-law, Rhonda Parker and Lynn Parker, and son-in-law, Robert K. Simpson. She attended many of their functions and enjoyed photographing family events.
The family will receive friends and family from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, March 1, at Anderson Funeral Home, 2011 S. Fourth Street, DeKalb, IL 60115. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 2, at First Congregational Church-UCC, 615 North First Street, DeKalb, IL 60115, with the Rev. Judy Harris officiating. Burial will take place at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Sandwich.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Congregational Church-UCC of DeKalb. Memorials also may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Franziska
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