Glenda J. Wilcox of Hermiston died on Jan. 10, 2019 in Kennewick, Wash. at the age of 79.
She was born on July 17, 1939 in Tacoma, Wash. to James Glenn Parsons and Agatha “Vale” Caldwell Parsons.
She graduated in 1957, and shortly thereafter headed to Hermiston where she had spent many summers visiting cousins and family. She loved her job working for Carl Aichele and Bob Schroth, who shared an insurance company. It was through this job and cousins that she was to meet her persistent future husband, James Otis “Odie” Wilcox. They were soon dating and wed in Lewiston, Idaho on April 22, 1960. A short 13 months later they welcomed daughter Pamela Jean, followed closely by twin brothers, James Eric and Robert Otis.
With family in Hermiston, they moved here for a short time and then settled in Dufur, where they started a mom and pop grocery store and butcher shop. Shortly thereafter, brother James “Jim” Parsons came along to complete the family. Mom learned about many aspects of the store and butcher shop, where the beginning of her love affair with cats was likely formed.
Glenda was an accomplished seamstress and wonderful cook and loved flowers (particularly irises), canning and preserving. She made nearly every stitch of clothing worn by her family, saving the scraps and quilting them. In her mid-20s she developed rheumatoid arthritis; it was to plague her for the rest of her life. Yet there were plenty of fishing trips as well as many trips to the mountains, picking mushrooms and heading up to deer and elk camp.
Some of her greatest joys would be the grandchildren that started popping into her life. She was “Granma Kitty” to all of her grandchildren. She loved to go to yard sales and find a treasure. She continued to keep her hands busy with cross
stitch and crocheting projects. Glenda was also the family historian of sorts. She had a memory for names, dates and events that never faltered and was up on current events.
She spent the last few years going through a tough patch, watching and caring for Odie as he declined due to Alzheimer’s Disease. It took a great toll on her health as well.
Glenda is survived by daughter, Pamela (Creigh) Wilcox-Lincoln; sons, James Eric (Daphne) Wilcox and Robert Otis (Marie) Wilcox; brother, James (Sandy) Parsons; sisters-in-law, Pat (Marvin) Wilcox-Kennedy and Gloria Aragon-Wilcox; nieces and nephews; many cousins; 10 grandchildren; and nearly 11 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Glenn and Vale Caldwell Parsons.
A memorial service will be in late March, date to be announced later, for both Otis and Glenda.
A private family service and burial will be at the Hermiston Cemetery.
Please leave online condolences for Glenda’s family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
