Gerald Parker

Services will be at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, April 8, 2011 at the First United Methodist Church in Canyon, with Pastor Tadd Mann of Palo Duro Cowboy Church, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery, Canyon, Texas. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at Brooks Chapel. Gerald (Jerry) was born in Canyon, Texas to James Otis and Lenna Juanita Parker on May 7, 1941. He attended Canyon schools and was an Agriculture Business graduate of West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M University) where he helped endow a scholarship for education students. He had been a resident of the Dawn community since 1967 where he ranched and owned and operated G&M Parker Well Service. He was a member of the Dawn Baptist Church. He was an accomplished marksman and pilot and was a volunteer reserve deputy for the Deaf Smith County Sheriff"s office. He was a member of Texas Cattle Feeders Association and a lifelong supporter of Cal Farley"s Boys Ranch and the Llano Estacado Boy Scouts. He was preceded in death by his parents, J.O. and Lena Parker, and older brother Foster Parker. Survivors include his wife, Joyce, of the home; children, Steven Gray Parker, of Dawn, Texas, Sabra Charlane Parker Hill, of Lebanon, Ohio, Dr. James Robert Parker and wife, Allison, of Amarillo, Texas, Matthew Lee Parker and wife, Robin, of Houston, Texas, Jeri Ann Fenton, of Amarillo, Texas, and grandson, Connor Martell Parker, of Dawn, Texas; six additional grandchildren, Kyle Hill, Rachel Hill, Colin Hill, Kenly Parker, Daniel Parker, and Margaret Parker; and one brother, Phillip Lee "Red" Parker, of Dalhart, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts be made to the Gerald G. Parker Scholarship at West Texas A&M University. Contributions may be sent to: WTAMU Foundation, WT Box 60766, Canyon, Texas 79016.