Janet Parker

Janet Robertson Parker passed away peacefully at the age of 66 in the arms of her husband Jeff at her bedside on Friday, April 6 after a prolonged struggle with cancer. She was born in Scotland and immigrated to America in her early 20's locating in Houston where she blossomed into the successful woman she became. Her genuineness of character, kindness of manner, and innate intelligence drew notice and these traits were quickly recognized by potential employers. She was hired by a geophysical firm where she learned the needs of the business, was soon promoted to Human Resources Manager and remained in that capacity for 25 years. On a chance meeting at a social event in 1996, she met who was to become her future husband, Jeff Parker, a native of Houston. They were happily married in 2001 and have remained deeply devoted to each other since then.

Janet is survived by her husband Jeff and a large family consisting of one nephew Iain and his wife Valentina with three children Jan, Sophia, and Olivia; three nieces Sharon, Allison with daughter Taylor, and Lorraine with daughters Kerry and Ashley; one stepdaughter Sarah and her husband Chad with two daughters Parker and Bridget; one stepson Steven and his wife Amy with four daughters Allison, Abigail, Emma, and Kathryn; two grandchildren Chelsea and Alejandro from her son Ian and his wife Mireya both of whom predeceased her; her brother-in-law Jim; and numerous siblings and cousins. Janet loved to be with her family and also to stay current on all the latest developments through Facebook. She loved to cook for the family and was famous for her baked pecans with her secret recipe of herbs and spices, lemon pie prepared with lemons grown in her garden, and old-country specialties like Scotch eggs. In her final days she had accepted the inevitable and expressed deep sadness of losing her family but also showed an anxious anticipation of the long awaited spiritual reunion with her sister Liz, her brother Bill, and her son Ian, who had all predeceased her. However, her deepest regret was leaving her long devoted and long loved husband Jeff. Both knew that he would suffer endless grief without her, but he also knew that same spiritual reunion with Janet awaited him and was only a matter of time and patience. Their favorite song that always brought tears to their eyes was from Shenandoah, "I Wanna Be Loved Like That".

Outside of work and family, Janet was a talented craftsman and artist. She restored century old homes with her own hands by painstakingly stripping and refinishing doors, windows, and furniture back to their original state. But her favorite creative hobby was painting on canvas. The treasure of her collection was her depiction of the cabin her husband had built years before they met and where the two of them were married by the Justice of the Peace on Janet's 50th birthday. Her painting of the cabin is from a vantage point at the exact spot where her ashes will be buried and where his ashes will be intermingled and buried upon his eventual death.

In lieu of flowers or other gifts, Janet requested in advance that donations be sent to the Bastrop County Animal Shelter (512-549-5160). In lieu of a public service there will be a private service limited to family members.