Obituary of Sarah Rangel Parker

Sarah Rangel Parker passed away peacefully in the home she loved, on July 24, 2019.

Born in Imperial Valley, California on March 2, 1941, Sarah grew up in the Valley, the youngest of six children. She met her husband Don Parker, who was stationed with the Air Force at the nearby Naval air station. They married in 1965 and shortly after the two moved to Japan while Don served during the Vietnam War. Upon returning to the United States in 1969, the couple moved to Washington State where they would build their family, raising daughters, Stephanie and Andrea. Married 54 years, Don and Sarah exemplified marriage and commitment and you could see the love and friendship between the two that lasted until the end.

Sarah leaves behind a legacy of faith, kindness, and love. A deeply caring and loving mom, Sarah extended this nurturing nature by serving her community well through her love for children. She spent many years teaching preschool and then becoming a daycare director. In her retirement years, she enjoyed seeing children she had taught as young preschoolers growing up in the community around her. Sarah always extended this caring nature to the kids around her, in the neighborhood, and her daughter’s friends, but when she became a Nana is when the depth of her love for kids was most apparent. She loved doting on her “grandbabies”, Hannah and Jack, and the deep joy and happiness they brought her was apparent in her stories, pictures, and conversations, especially in her final days.

Sarah’s faith and love for Christ was the foundation of her life and gave her strength and peace in her final days. Sarah is survived by her loving family, husband Don Parker, daughter Stephanie Parker-Madsen, son-in-law Rob Madsen, daughter Andrea Eason, son-in-law Luke Eason, granddaughter Hannah Eason, grandson Jack Eason, sister Catalina Roberts, sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Sarah was preceded in death by her father, Aurelio Rangel, mother Catalina Rangel, sisters, Estefena Aurellano, Sophia Rangel, and Eva Combs, and brother Aurelio Rangel Jr.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the American Cancer Society.