Juanita Aldridge, 93, passed peacefully into eternal life on Easter Sunday, surrounded by her greatest life's work and her reason for living -- her family.

She was born in Oakland, Arkansas, on April 25, 1925, to Harvey and Pauline (Pierson) Parker and was raised as part of a large farm family that knew the meaning of courage, integrity and hard work. She attended the one-room Newton Flat schoolhouse, but received the greatest education from life itself, often serving as the voice of love, wisdom and reason for her family. She married Joe Aldridge in Baxter County, Arkansas, on February 16, 1944. They had been married for 52 years when he passed away in 1996.

Services are on Thursday (her 94 ^th birthday) at 1 p.m. at Wagoner First United Methodist Church. Visitation is Wednesday, 5-7 p.m., at Mallett Funeral Home in Wagoner.

She was preceded in death by her husband Joe; two sons, John and Jerry; brothers Travis, Murel, John and Dale Parker; sisters Monnie Parker Austin, Bonnie Parker Bassett, and Pat Parker Duggins; and grandson Brett Aldridge.

She is survived by a sister, Ann Parker Lively (George) of Roosevelt, Washington; a brother, Dennis Parker, of Granger, Washington; sons Jack (Janice) Aldridge of Wagoner, Jim Aldridge of Muskogee and  Joe Aldridge of Hulbert; daughters Jo Nita Sullivan of Wagoner, Jane (Mike) Wineland of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Janet (Jeff) Sharrock of Hulbert; grandchildren Nat (Sheree) Aldridge, Kate Dietzel, John (Katie) Aldridge, Aaron Aldridge, Jeremiah (Angie) Aldridge, Matthew Sullivan, Laura and Leah Wineland, Christopher (Holly) and Dylan (Kellie) Sharrock; and great-grandchildren Jadea Hawkins, Zoe Aldridge, Olivia Woodard,  Jack, Paul and Lauren Aldridge; Will and Lily Dietzel; Stella, Mena and Jonah Aldridge; and Grayson Sharrock.