John Alton Parker

John Alton Parker, born July 23, 1947, in Huntington Park, CA, passed away on May 5, 2017, in St. George, UT. He was born to Dale Alton Parker and Rhoda Beth Stagg. He is survived by: his wife, Jolene Brynn Wolff; and his daughters: JaNae Elizabeth Lee and Jinny Kathleen Peterson. We truly found love, joy, hope, peace, and comfort in the Refiner’s Fire. Some things can be learned no other way. After thirty-six years in the military, this was his greatest battle. He fought like a warrior. Many thanks to all who have helped & supported our family throughout his illness AND at this time. Thank you for your kind service, thoughts, and prayers in our behalf. While helping my sister Lyle through Chemo, I discovered this ditty about cancer taped to her ‘frig. The paragraph beginning with "Diminish His love for you" and ending with "Negate immortality or reduce eternal life: are words and additional thoughts I added to encompass our Church Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints beliefs: WHAT CANCER CAN’T DO… CANCER IS SO LIMITED. IT CANNOT: Cripple love, shatter hope, corrode faith, eat away peace, kill friendship, shut out memories, silence courage, invade the soul Diminish His love for you Cause His Spirit to flee from us Invalidate our Endowment Break our family’s Temple Sealing Nullify the power of the Priesthood Thwart His Plan of Salvation Lessen His Atoning Sacrifice in our behalf Eliminate the magnitude of His gift of resurrection Negate immortality or reduce eternal life OUR GREATEST ENEMY IS NOT THE DISEASE, BUT DESPAIR Concerning the song, "Now Let Us Rejoice": While in the jungles of Panama with the National Guard, the chaplain promised the locals, “If you come to church this Sunday, you’ll sing with the angels.” Seated near the back, John turned to acknowledge the women whose beautiful voices he heard. There were none in the sea of a hundred Utah soldiers. He truly heard what the chaplain promised as they sang this song. After his September 21, 2011, diagnosis, John prayed to know how the Lord would have him fulfill the remainder of his days. Surprised by no answer after three days, he sat at his desk and looked inside the box of his treasured military pins, patches, and insignias; thinking “The grandchildren may like this one or that one.” Then he happily rediscovered his dog tags. Thereon was his name, serial number, denomination, AND the highlighted answer to his prayer… “BE POSITITVE”. It was not only his blood type, BUT a very specific directive from God to pattern the rest of his days after. He did, and was richly blessed for it. Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Sun River 1st Branch Chapel, 4461 South Country Club Drive, St. George, UT.

John Alton Parker

July 23, 1947 - May 5, 2017