Suzanne Taylor Stephens-Parker

Suzanne Taylor Stephens-Parker, 83, peacefully entered the arms of Jesus Christ her Savior on Saturday, August 9, 2025, in Arlington. Born Jacque Sue Corporon in Paola County, Kansas, she was the oldest of the six children of Lewis Corporon and Helen Corporon.

“Suzi,” as she was affectionately called, spent her earliest childhood years in Independence, Kansas, followed by a few years in Joplin, Missouri, where the young family lived with Helen’s parents while Lewis served in World War II. The family returned to Independence after the war, and Suzi became the first newspaper delivery girl for the local paper. In 1958, Lewis accepted a call as the Minister of Christian Education at Central Christian Church in Enid, Oklahoma. At Enid High School in Oklahoma, Suzi was an active member of student government, participated in theater, was a reporter for the school paper, and played French horn in the school band.

After graduating from Enid High School in 1960, Suzi began her nursing education at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS (graduating in 1967). Initially, KU did not permit women to join the marching band because university policy prohibited girls from wearing trousers. After persistent Suzi helped change the policy, she played the French horn in the KU Jayhawks marching band, something of which she was very proud.

Suzi met her first husband at KU, and they married on December 26, 1962. Suzi, John Burkle Jr., and their two children (Amy and John III) moved to Arlington, TX. In 1973, the family expanded with the birth of a daughter, Annabeth. Following a divorce, Suzi continued in pursuit of her Master of Science in Nursing at UT Arlington. After graduating in 1980, she enjoyed a career in psychiatric nursing, holding positions at several medical facilities, including John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth and MHMR of Tarrant County.

Suzi became one of the earliest members of Fort Worth’s Network for Executive Women (NEW). NEW was formed in part because, at the time, Fort Worth civic clubs generally did not accept women as members. While involved with NEW, Suzi was honored to receive the coveted Ruth Marie Cox Award.

In January 1981, Suzi attended a singles event at Spring Creek Bar-B-Q Restaurant in Arlington. The primary activity was country and western dance lessons. Suzi and Hugh Stanton Parker (Stan) were immediately attracted to each other and began dating exclusively. After five years, though, she ended the relationship, stating that she had decided he would never marry and that she would always love him. Two years later, she legally changed her name to Suzanne Taylor Stephens, as these names held special significance for her. After a few years, Taylor, as she was then known, and Stan started dating again. In 1997, Taylor reunited with a daughter, Patricia (“Trish”) Rice, whom she had given up for adoption thirty-five years earlier. Taylor, Stan, and all the extended family welcomed Trish and her family into the fold.

Taylor and Stan were married on March 21, 2000. The ceremony took place at Stan’s home in Arlington, nineteen years after they had begun dating. A large reception was held in September of that year.

Taylor loved cooking and took numerous cooking classes during her life. Her cooking skills proved helpful as she loved to entertain. Taylor was also an avid gardener and became a Texas Master Gardener. For years, she was the go-to family member for questions on all things floral or plant related.

Taylor and Stan were long-term members of the Friendship Force, Fort Worth chapter. The first country Taylor and Stan visited was Mongolia (with a three-day layover in Beijing). The couple participated in 11 foreign exchanges with the chapter, as well as numerous other foreign and domestic trips on their own. They also hosted several international members from abroad in their home while involved with Friendship Force.

In 2018, several years after Taylor was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Stan began taking Taylor to Musical Memory Singers. Taylor enjoyed the music and loved to whistle and dance, but her ability to speak and remember things diminished over the years. Stan always said Taylor was sweet, fun, supportive, and outgoing. Growing old with her was full of love, life, adventure, and good times. During their marriage, Stan often quoted lyrics from a Roy Clark song entitled, “If I had to do it all over again” (“I’d do it with you”).

Taylor is survived by her loving husband of almost 25 years, Stan Parker, with whom she found true love and shared many adventures. She is also survived by her children, Patricia Rice (Mike) of Tomball, TX; Amy Hancock-Jackson (Kimmy) of Belton, TX; John Burkle, III (Deidre) of Jackson, TN; and Annabeth (Richard C.) Jordan of Ferris, TX; by three of her sisters: Nancy Ann Corporon (Doreen), Dr. Mary Jo Turner (Steve), and Elizabeth Gael (Dave) Martin, grandchildren Danielle Rice Lewis (Nicko), Joshua Hancock, Matthew Rice, and Katie Hancock Morgan (Reese), and one great-grandson, Gabriel Lewis. Taylor is also survived by numerous nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother William (“Bill”) Corporon, and her sister Barbara (“Jane”), her great-nephew Reat Underwood, and her son-in-law Trey Hancock. In addition, Taylor is survived by Stan’s brothers (Joe Parker and James Parker), his cousins, and descendants of Hugh M. and Bertie Moore of Arlington.

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