Katie Lee Parsons passed away at Holdenville General Hospital on Thursday evening, October 3, 2013, at the age of 85 years.

Katie was the daughter of Roscoe P. Smith & Mary Alline (McElwee) Smith, born on January 17, 1928, in Yell County, Arkansas. The family moved to Oklahoma when Katie was a small child, and she was brought up in the Spaulding and Little River communities.

She was married to G. W. Parsons on February 3, 1945, in Lamar, Oklahoma, while he was serving in the U.S. Navy. They lived in southern California, where Katie worked as a telephone operator. After G. W.'s discharge from military service, they followed various farming endeavors and other occupations in California and Washington. On G. W.'s request, they returned to Oklahoma in the late 1940s, and farmed for a short while in the Fairview community before moving to the Little River community. G. W. passed away on December 2, 1987, and Katie moved to Holdenville shortly after his death.

Katie worked as Caregiver to her mother and aunt, and after their passing she worked with her son at the Stratford Animal Hospital. She loved to serve and take care of other people. Due to her strong belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, she raised her family in the Assembly of God Church. Later, she and her husband started the Little River Community Church. After her husband passed away, Katie attended services with people for whom she was caregiver at their respective churches, including First Christian Church in Holdenville, where she attended for seven years. She loved babies, especially her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Roscoe & Alline Smith; brothers Edward Smith and J. B. Smith; her beloved husband of 42 years, G. W. Parsons; one son, Donald Parsons.

She is survived by three children: Gary Parsons and wife Sherry of Wasilla, Alaska, Karen J. Roebuck of Holdenville, Gerald W. Parsons and wife Brenda, of Stratford; twelve grandchildren: Gregory Parsons of Skagway, Alaska, Tina Parsons of Wasilla, Alaska, Mia Vajdos and husband David of Chugiak, Alaska, Tobias Parsons of Skagway, Alaska, Joshua Parsons of Wasilla, Alaska, Anthony Shane Parsons of Anchorage, Alaska, Megan Michelle Rutherford and husband Joe, of Eagle River, Alaska, Tammy Venable and husband Johnny, of Holdenville, Robert Roebuck of Long Beach, California, Tara Hensley and husband Mickey, of Blanchard, Alisha Deakins and husband Patrick, of Springdale, Arkansas, and Amanda Britt of Stratford; 22 Great Grandchildren and 2 Great Great Grandchildren; one sister, Linda Sue Stout of Choctaw; nieces and nephews, other relatives, and many friends.

Graveside services will be Monday, October 7, 2013, 3:30 p.m. and Katie will be laid to rest in the Holdenville Cemetery. Pallbearers are Mickey Hensley, Johnny Venable, Daniel Venable, Patrick Deakins, Trever Teague, and Tobias Parsons.