Dorothy Parker Gault

Dorothy Louise Parker Gault , just 13 days short of her 92nd birthday, was called Home to be with her Lord and Savior after a courageous battle with cancer, Tuesday morning, February 9, 2021.  Dorothy was born in Beaukiss, Texas to Odis and Florence Scott, February 22, 1929.  Dorothy grew up in the Pleasant Grove community and were neighbors with the Oakley Parker family.  She graduated from Elgin High School Class of ’46.  After graduation, she married her childhood sweetheart and best friend, David O. Parker, on August 22, 1946.  From 1948 until 1960, the young couple had four children, Betty, Bonnie, Scotty, and Terry.  Dorothy and David lived in Denver, then Carlsbad, New Mexico, while David served in the U.S. Army.  After David’s sudden passing from a heart-attack at age 35, Dorothy, then 34, moved back to Elgin until 1964, and then moved to Austin, where she spent the next 40 years in Austin.  In 2005, she sold her home in Austin, and moved to her family’s property outside of Elgin, where she lived the remainder of her life enjoying the country.

Her youngest son, Terry struggled with metal issues from birth.  Due to her loving care and patience was able to help him successfully graduated from Reagan High School as a member of the ROTC.  By the end of his life, he lived in his own home, drove his own truck, worked as a janitor at the University of Texas, and an elementary school in Austin.  Dorothy was determined to help make life successful for her youngest son.  She was instrumental in pioneering a cultural shift within Austin ISD’s educational practices, which personalize content and expectations, to promote learning.  This eventually would evolve into special education protocols for children with mild to moderate challenges.

In her spare time, she loved puzzles, crocheting, and traveling. She was a life-time member of the Baptist Church.  After her children were grown, she decided to do something for herself - her brother Clyde Scott was a Mason and encouraged her to join the Eastern Star.  She was a member of Travis Chapter O.E.S. #492, where she was Worthy Matron from 1989-1990.  She thoroughly enjoyed her 10 or so years with the Eastern Star Travis Chapter.

Dorothy began a career with the DPS, as a Key Punch Operator in 1964, where she worked until she retired in 1991.  In the early years of retirement, her passion was to travel weeks at a time with friends from her Chapter. She particularly enjoyed touring all the Hawaiian Islands, British Vancouver, Western Canada, the Pacific Northwest, and Colorado. In 2005, she and son, Scotty took a cruise down to the Panama Canal and to visit many places on the way there. That was an incredibly special time for her and Scotty.

Dorothy was preceded by both her parents, Odis and Florence Scott; her husband, David O. Parker; three children, David Scott Parker, Terry L. Parker, and Bonnie Jean Parker Jenkins; her brothers, Clyde and Lee Ray Scott.

She is survived by her daughter, Betty Carol Parker Ballard; her seven grandchildren, Vance Ballard, Brett Ballard, Randy Ballard, Gene Elder, Jimianne Jenkins, Jennifer Jenkins, and Rachael Parker; 12 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and her sister, Edith Lanfear; numerous nieces nephews, extended family and dear friends.

Funeral Service will be conducted at Elgin Funeral Home, Tuesday, February 23rd at 2:00 PM with Brother, Larry Burleson presiding.  Interment will follow at Elgin Cemetery.