Catherine Belk Parks

Catherine Parks, age 66, of Knoxville, TN, passed away surrounded by her family and friends on Wednesday, August 2, 2023.

Catherine achieved her MBA in Accounting from ETSU. After school, she worked as an accountant for K25, a typing teacher, The University of Tennessee as a grants and acquisitions administrator, and lastly, but most importantly, as a full time mom to her children.

She received the Betty Crocker Cooking award in 1971 and she served as the President of the Spina Bifida Association. In her spare time, she was an avid quilter, bird watcher, Trekkie (Star Trek Fan) and reader.  

Catherine is preceded in death by her mother and father, Ruth Agnes Belk and Joe Sam Belk and her much beloved sister, Mary Darlan Belk.

She is survived by her husband, John Wesley Parks: daughters, Jan Marie Parks, Amy Catherine Parks-Stuvland and her husband, Robby Stuvland: brothers, Joseph Patrick Belk, Michael Everette Belk and Christopher Earle Belk: sister, Ruth Anne Hurst. She also leaves behind and will be missed by many nieces, nephews a great-niece and great nephews.

The family would like to give a special thanks to her good friends and fellow quilters, Diana Bishop, Cyndie Drew, Cindy Webb, Gloria Summers, Jess Ann Cole and Joan Snoderly and her long term friends and neighbors, The Himmelreichs. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the organization STAR, (Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding, 11800 US-11 East, Lenoir City, TN 37772)

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Gentry-Griffey Funeral Chapel (5301 Fountain Rd, Knoxville, TN 37918). A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, August 11, 2023 at 10:00am at The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (711 S. Northshore Dr, Knoxville, TN 37919). A graveside service will be held on Friday, August 11, 2023 at 3:00pm at Greenwood Cemetery (3500 Tazewell Pike, Knoxville, TN 37918).

Gentry-Griffey Funeral Chapel and Crematory is honored to serve the Parks family and invites you to sign the online registry at www.gentrygriffey.com

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