Martha L. "Martie" Parks, 82, died Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. She was born Jan. 19, 1935, in Beloit, the daughter of Bernard and Mildred (Armour) Hays.

Martie graduated from high school in Madison, Wis., and Emporia State University. She taught at McCandless Elementary in Hutchinson for several years. She also taught private piano lessons until she was 75, teaching several generations of children and adults in Hutchinson.

Martie was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, a past Sunday school teacher, a member of UMW and was a founding member of the Chancel Bell Choir. She helped organize the Block Mothers program for the #308 school district. Other memberships included the Hutchinson Piano Teacher's League, Music Club and HCC Faculty Dames. Martie also enjoyed volunteering to take tickets at the annual 3A State Basketball Tournament in Hutchinson, and liked watching the crowds and players.

While at college, her Pi Kappa Sigma sorority set up a blind date with fraternity member, Claude D. Parks. They were married Jan. 21, 1958, in Newton. He died Feb. 17, 2010.

Survivors include: daughter, LeeAnn and husband John Schulthess; son, Ron and wife Crystal, all of Hutchinson; grandsons, Justin of Hutchinson and Kyle of Twenty Nine Palms, Calif.; sisters-in-law, Beth Moore and husband Johnny of Claremore, Okla., Sherye Parks of Hutchinson; and cousin, Nancy Evans of Holdrege, Neb. She was preceded in death by: her parents; son, Tom; brother-in-law, Bill Parks; and sister-in-law, Maxine Worton.

Cremation has taken place. Memorial service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 17th and Main, with the Reverend Mike McGuire presiding. Inurnment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson. Friends may sign the memorial book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Friday, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to HCC Endowment Association-The Parks Family Scholarship, in care of Elliott Mortuary and Crematory, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.