Nola Jean Minshew Parkinson, 89, passed away in her sleep early the morning of May 31, 2021, at her home in Silverton, Oregon.
She was born on September 5, 1931 to Dorothy Ruth Hudson Minshew and Robert Perry Minshew in Pocatello, Idaho. They soon moved to Twin Falls, where she spent the rest of her childhood. Nola enjoyed music and dance, and as a young child, was quite a talented tap dancer. Later, she played the French horn in the school band.
Nola graduated from Twin Falls High School in 1949, before heading back to Pocatello to attend Idaho State University as an English major, where she joined the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. It soon became clear that Idaho State had more to offer Nola than an education and sisterhood, however, because it was there she met a young pharmacy student from Rexburg, Fred R. Parkinson, who was the love of her life and her constant companion for the next 70 plus years. She and Fred married on April 8, 1951 in Twin Falls, Idaho. Soon after their marriage, she and Fred, a newly-licensed pharmacist, moved to Coos Bay, Oregon where he accepted his first job. The young couple, both born and raised in dry southern Idaho, were not prepared for life on the very wet Oregon Coast, so to keep his bride happy, Fred sought a different job inland, and the couple moved to Central Point, where they spent the next few years. Fred had begun saving to purchase his own drugstore almost immediately upon entering the workforce, and soon their dreams were realized when an opportunity further north presented itself. Fred and Nola bought Silverton Drug Store in 1955 and became proud members of the Silverton community.
Nola helped out at the store in the early years, and was an avid bowler. Later on, she took up golf and enjoyed the sport as well as the social aspects of the game. She enjoyed volunteering with many local organizations in the community over the years. For several years in the 1960s, she headed the local Girl Scout cookie drive, converting her living room into a cookie warehouse. She was a long-standing member of the local PEO, and also a member of multiple bridge clubs, where she spent many afternoons hosting and enjoying the company of treasured friends. When Fred took elected office as State Representative in 1981, she became his administrative assistant during biennial legislative sessions for the next six terms. She enjoyed their time spent together at the Capitol serving his constituency over those twelve years, and cherished the friendships made with other legislators and their wives along the way.
Nola was a wonderful mother and grandmother. In 1975, when their eldest two children were college graduates, and the two others were in college and high school, Nola and Fred decided to start all over when they were blessed with a "surprise", which she (once the shock wore off) handled with energy and grace. With pride in her eyes, she would often mention that few families likely had children attending Silverton schools for five consecutive decades, as hers attended from the 1950s through the 1990s. Due to her love of music, she was also very proud that all five of her children sang in the Choralaires, some at the same time, and she loved to watch them perform. Her older children remember how she would blast the stereo to sounds of The Music Man to get them up on Saturday mornings to do chores. Her youngest remembers years later, she had abandoned the music, and simply hollered up the stairs, "daylight's burnin!". Soon after her own family was complete, she became a grandmother, which was undoubtedly her favorite of all her titles, and she spent the next forty plus years enjoying it. Her grandchildren and great-grand-children have many fond memories of the whole family spending Christmas Eve together, and waking up at Grandma's house on Christmas morning.
Fred and Nola enjoyed an active retirement. Nola spent several months each year in Hawaii with Fred and her step-mother and best-friend Marj. They golfed, played cards, and had at least weekly "poo-poo" parties with a wonderful community of friends. Nola also loved the annual weekend Christmas shopping trips to Portland and Seattle which she enjoyed with her daughters and grand-daughters, as well as elaborate tailgating before Oregon State football games with the whole family, which she never wanted to miss, even though she and Fred went home as the game started. She looked forward to the annual camping trip in Hermiston with 100 of her closest family and friends, always wanting to be the first to arrive in their fifth wheel trailer, and the last to drive away. In short, Nola was happiest when she was spending time with her people, and never wanted to miss a minute of the party.
The greatest legacy Nola left was also her greatest joy: her family, and to Nola, the concept of family need not always involve blood. She opened her home, and her heart to countless friends, and later friends of her children and grandchildren, who became, and whom she treated, like family. This loving example she set for all who loved her was a gift, and for it she will be remembered fondly, and missed greatly.
Nola is predeceased by her parents Robert Perry Minshew and Dorothy Ruth Hudson Minshew, her brother Robert Neil Minshew, and her grandson, Marshall Perry Briscoe. She is survived by her husband of seventy years, Fred R. Parkinson, her five children, Pennie Day (Mike), Fred A. Parkinson, Shannon Montoya (Lem), Polly Briscoe (Dan), and Nicole Winnen (Jarod), sister Linda Morrison (Earl), sister Marjorie "Punkin" McGihon (Jon), brother William "Buster" Minshew (Gretchen), and her step-mother Marjorie Minshew. Also surviving Nola are eleven of her grandchildren: Erin Scott (Colin), Kevin Day (Katie), Adam Montoya (Jenny), Stephanie Boni (Pat), Kyle Day (Haley), Jordan Briscoe (Sarah), Carter Briscoe, Nolan Briscoe, Connor Winnen, Sydney Winnen, Casey Winnen, and eighteen great-grandchildren.
A service will be held on Saturday, June 5th, at 10:00 a.m., at the Silverton Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, with a private graveside service to follow at Union Hill Cemetery in Sublimity.