Margaret Jean Parke, age 87, of Avon Lake, Ohio, died Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at the Norton Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. She was born in Akron, Ohio on August 23, 1920 , daughter of the late, Lawrence William & Rosella (Washburn) Beat. She made her home in Toledo, Ohio, until 1975 when she moved to Avon Lake, Ohio. She was the widow of Harry Morris Parke, who died in 1998. Mrs. Parke held a Bachelor of Arts in Education magna cum laude and Master of Arts degrees from The University of Toledo. She was the recipient of The University of Toledo Alumni Association's 1981 'Blue T' Award. She was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Gamma Mu honoraries and Chi Omega. She served as an advisor to Xi Delta Chapter of Chi Omega on campus for 24 years. She was honored as the 'Outstanding Chi Omega Alumna, State of Ohio' in 1982. Her library interests encompassed trusteeships on the Friends of The University of Toledo Libraries (Past President), Avon Lake Public Library (Past President) and Avon Lake Public Library Foundation, Inc. (Founder and Secretary). The Conference Room in the Avon Lake Public Library is named in her honor. Mrs. Parke was a Past President of the Toledo Branch of the American Association of University Women and served on the Ohio Division Board. Toledo AAUW gave a grant in her name to the AAUW Educational Foundation. She was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Toledo, where she taught Sunday School and was Key Woman to Church Women United of the Toledo Area. She served as Secretary and an Incorporator of the ecumenical group. She became a parishioner of St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Bay Village, Ohio, after moving from the Toledo Area. Mrs. Parke was an organizer and first President of Parkview Hospital Evening Guild, Toledo. She belonged to Avon-on-the-Lake Garden Club. Her biography is included in the 1991-1992 Edition of Who's Who of American Women. Her career activities included serving as Administrative Assistant in the Toledo District Office of Price Administration during World War II, Editing Consultant for 17 years for Century Press, Inc.'s business publications, and Reports Editor for 3 years in the Cleveland Office of Price-Waterhouse & Co., She was the first Consultant for Women's Programs in the University of Toledo's Division of Continuing Education, 1973 ' 1975. Mrs. Parke was a Partner in Woodlark Associates and Co-Owner of Woodlark Farms, Inc. thoroughbred horse breeding operations in Georgetown, Kentucky. She was also a Partner and Financial Officer in Parke Supply Co., an Avon Lake industrial distributorship. Services will be held on Saturday, January 19, at 1:00 p.m. in the Mausoleum of Ottawa Hills Memorial Park, 4210 West Central Ave., Toledo, prior to private burial. A Memorial Service will be conducted on Monday, January 21, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, 468 Bradley Rd., Bay Village with Rev. Gene Sherman officiating. A reception at the church will follow the service. Mrs. Parke's survivors include a daughter, Catherine Jean Park of Georgetown, KY; son, Richard Blake (Berni) Parke of Noblesville, IN; granddaughter, Rebecca Elizabeth Parke of Mesa, AZ; grandson, Matthew Blake (Terr) Parke of Noblesville, IN; twin great grandsons, John D. and Lucas B. Parke; and a brother, William L. Beat of Toledo. She was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Beat. Memorial contributions may be sent to: St. Barnabas Anglican Church, 468 Bradley Road, Bay Village, Ohio 44140, Avon Lake Public Library Foundation, Inc., 32641 Electric Blvd., Avon Lake, Ohio 44012, Chi Omega Foundation, 3395 Players Club Pkwy., Memphis, TN 38125 or The University of Toledo Alumni Foundation, #1002 Driscoll Center, 2801 W. Bancroft St., Toledo, Ohio 43606. Eastman Funeral Home, 200 W. Main St., New London is in charge of arrangements.