Carrie Neel-Parker (1973-2016) passed away Friday, September 2nd in San Diego, CA. Carrie, an only child, was born and raised in Louisville, KY. She attended grade school at Christian Academy and attended high school at Sacred Heart, both in Louisville. She studied fine arts at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, and then attended the University of Louisville where she continued her study in fine arts and also studied psychology and English literature. She moved to San Diego and studied acupuncture at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, where she earned a Masters of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine. She was a national and California board certified and licensed acupuncturist and herbalist. During the time of her’s and her husband’s adoption of their daughter from Ethiopia, Carrie co-founded the Lelt Foundation, a non-profit charity working to improve the lives of orphans and disadvantaged children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Carrie was a lifelong artist, talented at sculpting, drawing, and painting, who deeply loved art, design, architecture, music, literature, philosophy, and eastern spirituality. She was also a gifted healer to her acupuncture patients. She loved to go thrift shopping with her mom, loved fashion, and always looked like a million bucks. Carrie was a beloved daughter, wife, and mother, and a beloved friend to so many. Carrie was a unique person, possessed of intelligence, talent, and creativity. This, and her loving nature and kindness, made her a shining light to those who knew her. She is survived by her mother Carolyn Adams Neel, father Gerald Neel, husband Lee Parker, and daughter Bynake Parker. Services will be in Louisville at Owen Funeral Home-Jeffersontown, 9318 Taylorsville Rd. Visitation will be on Sunday and Monday, September 11-12, from 1:00 to 8:00 PM. The funeral service will be on Tuesday, September 13 at 1PM. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Lelt Foundation (leltfoundation.org). Carrie was a beautiful soul who was loved by so many, and will be greatly missed.