Dr. Christina Yates Parr

Dr. Christina Yates Parr (Retired)

Dr. Christina Yates Parr (retired) of Eudora, Kansas, formerly of Columbia, South Carolina, died on January 1, 2021. Christina was the daughter of Dr. Theodore M. Yates and Jean K. Yates who were both medical missionaries in China when Christina was born. Christina was born on October 20, 1926, in Anhwei (Anhui) Province, China where she continued to live until she was a teenager. Both parents and Christina’s brother, James K. Yates, and sister-in-law Dottie Yates preceded her in death. Christina was married to and divorced from Petro R. Parr, deceased. Three children survive from that marriage: Katherine A. Parr of Brown Summit, NC, Jean P. Hall and husband Denny of Eudora, KS and Karl P. Parr and wife Sandy of Fuquay-Varina, NC.
Christina is also survived by six grandchildren, including triplets, Christopher, Katherine and James Hall of Eudora, Kansas, and Andrew, Charlotte and Olivia Parr of Fuquay-Varina, NC. In addition, Christina is survived by her two nephews, Ted and Greg Yates of California.
Christina received her undergraduate degree from Agnes Scott University graduating Phi Beta Kappa, and her medical degree from Temple University and completed her residency in Chicago. She served as a medical missionary in Iran from 1959 to 1961 and then was in private practice in Columbia, South Carolina from 1961 until she retired in 1997. Her practice in Columbia offered the first integrated waiting room in the city. During her 36 years in private practice, Christina delivered more than 3,000 babies into this world. She moved to Eudora, KS in 2003 to be closer to her then only grandchildren. Christina was active in the Eudora United Methodist Church for many years, volunteered at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital, enjoyed gardening, reading and her Siamese cats. Christina also did mission work in Honduras, Peru, and Guatemala. She was a 20+ year survivor of breast cancer.
Memorials may be made to Eudora United Methodist Church in Eudora, KS or Shandon Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC. and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044. A celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date.