Ora Lee (Bard) Parker

Ora Lee Bard Parker, 81, of Madisonville, formerly of Cleaton, Kentucky, passed away peacefully at 11:30 p.m. Saturday February 22, 2025 at Madisonville Health and Rehabilitation Nursing Facility in Madisonville with her daughter by her bedside.

A native of Greenville, Kentucky, she was born to the late Roy Bard and Carrie Gaither Bard on February 17, 1944. 

She was a member of Flower Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Madisonville where she served faithfully and was a member of the choir. 

She was formerly employed with Dollar General Store in Madisonville as a store clerk, with Carhartt Inc. Manufacturing Plant in Hanson, Kentucky as a seamstress, and was a graduate of the former Drakesboro High School in Drakesboro, Kentucky.  She loved cooking, listening to gospel music, and singing, and her favorite gospel song was (We'll Understand It Better By And By). 

Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her daughter, family members, church family, and many friends, all of whom will miss her dearly.   

In addition to her parents, she also was preceded in death by her husband Willie H. Parker Jr., whom she married in 1963, and who died on May 14, 2024; three brothers Roy Bard, Tom Bard, and George Bard; two sisters Daisy Lucille Jones and Castella Hawkins; and one aunt who raised her Ozie Moore. 

She leaves behind to cherish her loving memories her beloved daughter Nora Parker of Madisonville, who was always faithful to mom, there for her always, and stayed by her side; one god-daughter Kiara Goodrich of Madisonville, who was like a second daughter; one brother Wendell "Crumpy" (Rose) Bard of Lexington, Kentucky; one sister Celestine Bard of Greenville, Kentucky; and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends. 

Her life will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. Saturday March 1, 2025 at Flower Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Madisonville. 

Pastor M. L. Quarles will officate. 

Burial will be in Elliott Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Madisonville. 

Visitation and wake services will be from 11:00 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church. 

Elliott-Bowles Mortuary in Madisonville is in charge of her professional services and arrangements. 

Condolences to the family can be shared with them at www.elliottmortuarycares.com.   

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