Ivah (Healey) and Roy Dallas Parks

Ivah Healey as a teenager

Ivah Maud Healey was born 14 August 1900 in Brookston, White Co., Indiana.  Her parents were Stella Naomi (Hough) and George Howland Healey.  I will do a full post on George and Stella eventually.

About 1905, the family moved to Rensselaer, Jasper Co., Indiana, where the rented the "Old Tyler House" on North Weston Street (that house has since been torn down).  The 1910 census shows the family living there and the family included George, Stella, their four living children, and George's mother, Julia (Howland) Healey.  About 1912, the family moved to "Randall House" on the corner of Susan and Cullen Streets in Rensselaer.  

In November 1916, Stella and her children moved to Mercedes, Texas in order to be closer to George who was stationed with the Army there.  In January 1918, they moved to Pleasanton, Texas while George was stationed at Ft. Sam Houston near there.  Then in November 1918, when George was sent overseas, Stella and the children moved to 2015 S. Dupre Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. About 1920, after George returned from being stationed with the Army in France, the family moved to Frankfort, Clinton Co., Indiana.  

Roy Dallas Parks was born 15 December 1892 in Antioch, Greene Co., Indiana.  His parents were William L. and Irene (Dow) Parks.

Roy Dallas Parks about 1918

Roy served overseas in the infantry during WWI.  On 20 November 1917, he married Hazel Laughunn in Linton, Greene Co., Indiana.  Hazel was the daughter of Charles Edward Laughunn and Mary Jane Concer.  

The 1920 census (taken in January 1920) shows the Parks household in Linton, Greene Co., Indiana as:  Roy D Parks, head, m,w,27, married, born Indiana, mechanic in auto repair shop; Hazel, wife, f,w,23, married, born Indiana; Edward Laughhunn, father-in-law, m,2,49, widowed, born Indiana, miner in coal mine; George Laughhunn, brother-in-law, m,w,20, single, born Indiana, miner in coal mine.   

On 25 April 1920, Hazel Parks died, apparently in childbirth since an infant son was born to the couple that same day.  The baby boy died 2 days later on 27 April 1920.  Hazel and her baby are buried together in Fairview Cemetery, Linton, Greene Co., Indiana.   

Sometime in 1920 after the death of his wife and son, Roy moved to Indianapolis.  Ivah and her parents were also living in Indianapolis sometime before 1925.  

On 3 February 1925, Ivah Healey married Roy Parks in Indianapolis.  The following announcement appeared in an unidentified Rensselaer newspaper:  The following appeared in the Rensselaer newpaper: "MISS IVAH HEALEY BRIDE OF INDIANAPOLIS MAN  --------- Former Rensselaer Young Lady United in Marriage With Roy Dallas Parks Tuesday. ______  Miss Ivah Healey, daughter of Col. and Mrs. George H. Healey, of Indianapolis, became the bride Tuesday of last week, February 3rd, of  Mr. Roy Dallas Parks, also of Indianapolis.  The marriage was solemnized at the bride’s home, 2415 North Alabama street, by Rev. Allan B. Philputt, of the Central Christian church.  Only the immediate families of the bride and groom were present.  Mr. and Mrs. Parks will be at home after February 15th at 1307 North Meridian street, Indianapolis"

When the 1930 census was taken, Ivah and Roy were living with Ivah's parents.  The household was: Healey, George H., head, renter, m,w,57, married at age 20, born Indiana; Supt. Pub. Relations, Street Railway; Stella N, wife, f, w, 56, married at 18, born Indiana; Homer M., son, m, w, 15, single, born Indiana, soda boy at drug store; Parks, Roy D., son-in-law, m, w, 37, first married at age 22, born Indiana, auto trimmer, paint shop; Ivah M, daughter, f w 29, m at age 24, born Indiana.

At some point, Ivah and Roy ran the coffee shop in the English Hotel on Monument Circle in Indianapolis.  In 1942, when Roy registered for the draft, they were living at 6 W. Michigan St., Indianapolis, and Roy stated that he was not employed.  

Ivah (Healey) Parks

 In 1951, Ivah and Roy were living at 3454 N. Pennsylvania, Apt. 5, Indianapolis.  Ivah's mother, Stella, was living with them; her father, George, had died in 1945.

Roy Dallas Parks died 25 June 1957 in Cold Springs Veteran's Hospital, Indianapolis.  He was 64.  He was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis.  Ivah and Roy had no children.

The following appeared in the Indianapolis Star on 26 June 1957:  "Roy Parks Dies; Former Owner of Restaurants.  Funeral services for Roy Dallas Parks, 45 West Fall Creek Parkway, South Drive, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in Flanner and Buchanan Fall Creek Mortuary.  Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery.  Mr. Parks, 64 years old, died Monday in the Cold Spring Road Veterans Administration Hospital.  A native of Lindon, he had lived here 37 years.  He was owner and operator 10 years of the coffee shop in the old English Hotel.  Later he opened the Parks Cottage Grill at 13th and Illinois streets and finally the Barton Hotel coffee shop.  He was a veteran of World War I overseas duty with the infantry and a member of Memorial Post 3 of the American Legion.
Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Ivah M. Parks; a sister, Miss Mary Parks of Indianapolis, and two brothers, Bob and Wayne Parks, both of New Orleans, La."

Another notice appeared that read:  "PARKS - With deep appreciation we wish to thank our relatives and friends for the lovely floral tributes, the sympathy and other courtesies extended during illness and at passing of our dear husband and brother, ROY D. PARKS.  A very special thanks to the doctors and nurses of Cold Spring Rd. Veterans Hospital, Dr. Myron Cole, Flanner & Buchanan and to all who assisted in so many ways.  - Wife and Family"
A notice regarding his death appeared in an unidentified (apparently Rensselaer) newspaper.  The notice reads, "Roy D. Parks Dies at Indianapolis -- Mrs. William Hoover of Rensselaer received a telephone call this morning which informed her of the death of Roy D. Parks, husband of the former Miss Ivah Healey of this city, at the veterans' hospital in that city early this morning.  Mrs. Parks is a daughter of the late Gen. George H. Healey, and Mrs. Healey of Indianapolis.  The deceased was about sixty-two years of age, and a veteran of World War I.  Mr. Parks had been hospitalized since early last November.  His death followed a decline extending over a six-year period.  With Mrs. Parks, he operated the Coffee Shop in the Barton hotel.  The only immediate survivors are the widow and a sister.  The funeral services will be held in Indianapolis at 11 o'clock Friday morning.  Interment will be in Indianapolis."  

After Roy's death, Ivah continued to live with her mother, Stella, in Indianapolis.  When Stella died in 1974, Ivah was living at 1459 N. Delaware.  

Ivah and Stella in the early 1970s

Ivah Maud (Healey) Parks died 10 January 1989 in Indianapolis.  She was buried next to Roy in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis;  there is no tombstone to mark her grave.  

An obituary appeared in the Indianapolis Star on 12 January 1989.  It read, "Ivah Healey Parks, 88, Indianapolis, died Tuesday.  Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Peace Chapel Mausoleum at Crown Hill Cemetery.  She was a member of First Christian Church.  No calling is scheduled.  Klute-Beach-Henry Funeral Home, Richmond, is handling arrangements.  Survivors: brothers, George W., A. James and Max Healey."