Lucy Parker, Eastern Michigan University Hall of Famer, died, September, 1, 2018, in Bonita Springs, Florida, at the age of 82. Lucy was the daughter of the late John and Bailey Parker and granddaughter of the late Ida Puckett and John (“Chub”) Hill and Mary Paris and Frank Parker, all of Smithville.

She is survived by life partner, Claudia Waskick of Bonita Springs, Florida, sisters, Anet (Dave Lockwood) of Saint Clair Shores, MI; Karen Hendley of Shelby Township, MI; and Judy Price (Tony Price) of Smithville, TN. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Lucy was born March 17, 1936, in Smithville and lived there until the family moved to Detroit, MI when she was 12. She graduated from Detroit Eastern Michigan High School, where she excelled in tennis and basketball. She went on to earn a Bachelors and Master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University and did post graduate work at Ohio State University. After several years of teaching and coaching in high school and college, in 1976, she was made Women’s Athletic Director at Eastern Michigan University.

Throughout her career, Lucy was actively involved in promoting women’s athletics. She worked tirelessly for the passage of Title IX, which among other things, provided equal funding for women’s sports. The Lucy Parker Women’s Athletics Endowment Fund was named in her honor. Lucy always worked hard to promote women’s athletics and was politically active and a passionate advocate for the passing of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

A family graveside service was held on September 17, 2018, at DeKalb Memorial Gardens, with several of her family giving comments about memories of Lucy’s life.