A memorial service to celebrate the life of Christie Esther Parker, 63, of Coquille, will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov.11, at Coos Bay Chapel, 685 Anderson Ave., in Coos Bay with pastor Don Berney, of New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, officiating. Christie was born Sept. 13, 1951, in Santa Monica, Calif., to Daniel Hale Rowan and Phyllis Jane Mathis. She passed away Nov. 1, 2014, in Coquille with her family by her side after a six-year battle with illness. Born into an entertainment family, her father, Dan Rowan was one half of the comedic duo Rowan & Martin. Along with comedian Dick Martin, they later had the 1960s hit television show “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-in.” Her mother, Phyllis Mathis was Miss California 1945, and placed first runner up to Bess Myerson in the 1945 Miss America Pageant. The youngest of three children, Christie was raised in the greater Los Angeles area. After graduating from Santa Monica High School she was employed for a few years as a model. After deciding modeling wasn’t for her she set off sailing to see the world. Fourteen years of sailing landed her in Hawaii, where she would meet and marry her soul mate, Ike Parker in February 1990. After thinking it over Ike and Christie decided it was time to sell the sailboat and move back to the mainland, they, together with some friends, purchased a gold mine in the mountains outside Winnemucca, Nev. While they enjoyed their time and put out a good effort, there didn’t seem to be the pot of gold they were hoping for. Together they ventured back to the Coquille area where they had land. It was there, Christie helped raise Ike’s five daughters as her own. Based out of Coquille, they owned and operated Ike Parker Corp., a paving and concrete contracting firm where her title was office manager, but she served in many roles often finding herself securing contracts and negotiating bids. She was one heck of a saleswoman. Later they opened Parker RV Park in the Lakeside area. Christie was a go-getter, very outgoing, yet still quite reserved. She was focused on her sobriety and loved her Alcohol Anonymous family as her own, staying very active until her health started failing. A bright point in her life was Christmas Eve six years ago when she and Ike moved into their dream house outside Coquille. Christie had a very big heart and was very giving. She contributed to endless charitable organizations to many to name. She collected knick knacks and enjoyed the outdoors. A dedicated member of AA, Christie, also was a member of the religious organization Science of the Mind. She was loved and appreciated by many and will be dearly missed. Christie is survived by her husband, Ike Parker of Coquille; daughter, Jenny Easley of Vancouver, Wash.; grandchildren, Nevaeh, Mina, and Connar of Vancouver, Wash.; brother, Tom and wife, Marla Rowan of Malibu, Calif.; sister, Mary Rowan of Hollywood; nephew, Dan Rowan of Hollywood; and niece, Katherine Rowan of Hollywood.

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