Donald Lee Parker

Donald Lee Parker, nearly 94, passed away in his sleep today, December 13, 2024. Last night he was doing Tarzan imitations and making jokes just like always. Glaucoma had taken his vision and he simply got weaker and after that great big Thanksgiving dinner two weeks ago he has slept much of the time. We are calling it death by missing Chris, his companion of 73 years who passed five months ago. She has appeared to him five times in the last five months and now he is very convinced of God and an afterlife, and did not want to go to sleep without having a prayer and the 23rd Psalm with his daughter. "Chris is there, and I want to be with Chris." He was born in Long Beach, California to Hazel Roehrman Parker and Homer George (Pat) Parker. He was predeceased by his little brother Kenneth Dean Parker who died at two weeks old, and his mother, father, and wife Chris. He lived the life of a boy and young man in Southern California going to the beach at least once a week on the bus. He also learned how to box and was an expert marble player, he had an entire pillowcase full of marbles which he had won. His mother became very depressed after Kenneth passed away and was hospitalized for many years. Don had a series of housekeepers for childcare and one wonderful stepmother who really cared and loved him, Marilyn Ruble Kortt Parker. She had a son Robert, who became his brother. Later his father shared his life and love with Dorothy Settles and her son Mike, who was with him from about 4 yrs old till he passed in 1973, so Mike Parker was a little brother. Pat, Marilyn, Robert and dad moved to Redmond Oregon and he lived as a farm boy on their ranch, using an outhouse, bathing in a tin tub by the stove, milking cows and buying, feeding, and selling cattle. He had many good friends and was a cheerleader with Gib Dean and four very cute girls at Redmond Union High School, Redmond Oregon. He met Chris at an ice cream hangout near Mirror Pond in Bend, Oregon, and it was love at first sight. He had to scare off the fiancée , then she was all his. He proposed on top of Pilot Butte, a landmark in Bend, and promised her that he would show her the world. After having two children, Steve and Laura, and two businesses of meat packing plants, he did show her the world and they went to at least 50 countries and traveled all over the United States with their fifth wheel. They always made friends wherever they went and they had the biggest contact list for Christmas letters that you have ever seen! It was a real book. In Redmond Don was owner/operator of Cinder Butte Packing Company, was a Young Men's Pres., Bishop, Primary teacher, Nursery leader, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was a very loving and dedicated home teacher. Everyone who knew Don loved him, and his great personality. He began writing poetry and his thoughts during this time. He was a volunteer leader at a drug rehab clinic, did business consulting, was a hospice volunteer. He retired at 42, moved to Cloverdale CA, bought a bunch of apartments, business building and rehabbed all of them. Mom was a huge part of his success and helped with every project. He learned about stained glass and made thousands of beautiful lamps and windows which mom sold to stores along the coast and in Napa Valley. He built his second log home, had an enormous garden and many orange, grapefruit and lemon trees. They moved to St. George Utah to be near their daughter and grandchildren in 1990. It was a wonderful move and they love their neighbors and being near the grandkids. This is where he took up photography and painting and fell in love with flowers, especially Iris's. He is survived by his two children, six grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and one great-great grandson. We want to thank Rose Alcala and Rolena Gerber (who have become my sisters) for the beautiful care of both Don and Chris for 1 1/2 years in their home and all of the neighbors and friends of my parents who are so kind and loving. We want to thank Advanced Hospice and Serenity mortuary (Kerry Gubler) for their beautiful care of both of our parents Thank You!! SERVICES: Saturday Dec. 21, 2024 1095 St. James Lane St. George,Utah 84790 Viewing 9-10:45 Funeral 11:00 Dedication of Grave 2:00 Hurricane, Utah Cemetery, far Northeast side

Donald Lee Parker

February 10, 1931 - December 13, 2024