Joyce Louise Parker Tankersley

Louise Tankersley went to be with her Lord and Savior July 22, 2009, after a four-year battle with breast cancer. Born Joyce Louise Parker in Palestine, Texas, on September 16, 1950, she moved to Lake Jackson with her family in 1956. She graduated from Brazosport High School in 1969 and from the University of Texas with a bachelor’s degree in home economics in 1972.

In April 1976, she married Lt. James D. Tankersley, a Navy flight instructor in Pensacola, Fla. His Navy career afforded them the chance to live on the East and West coasts of the U.S. They made their final move to Ridgecrest, California, in 1994, where she was given the opportunity to express her passion for teaching, starting her career at Las Flores Elementary in January 1995, where she worked until her recent retirement in the summer of 2009.

While living and teaching in Ridgecrest, she devoted considerable time to IWV youth cheerleading, baseball and football, as well as Burroughs High School cheerleading, athletics and boosters, especially during the Burros 2005 CIF Championship football season.

Louise enjoyed cooking, reading, SCUBA and, most of all, spending time with her family.

Louise is survived by her parents, J.N. “Buddy” and Natalie Parker of Lake Jackson; sister, Frances (H.N. Bitter) of Lake Jackson; her husband, JimTankersley; son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Krysta Tankersley; daughters, Jennifer and Katie Tankersley; and son, Benjamin Tankersley.

Funeral services were held Sunday, July 26, 2009, 3 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Ridgecrest.

Interment will be at College Mound Cemetery in Terrell, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Las Flores Elementary PTO in Louise’s name, 720 W. Las Flores Ave, Ridgecrest, CA 93555.

Published July 28, 2009