Pine Creek, Oregon
George “Brownie Parker Sr., 83, a resident of the Pine Creek area near Halfway, died May 3, 2002, at his home.
His graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway.
George Perry Parker was born at Marietta, Okla., on March 31, 1919, to Sally and James Parker. Their family migrated to Roswell, N.M. around 1930. “Brownie” moved to Redlands, Calif., in 1933 working as a meat cutter there until 1936. At this time, he started a career of climbing trees that spanned seven decades.
He moved to Bakersfield, Calif. in 1939. He met and married Molly F. Foster that same year. Together they raised five children.
In 1963, “Brownie” married Judy Lee Brown and together they raised two children. His years in Bakersfield were filled with his occupation as a tree trimmer as well as farming cotton and other crops.
“Brownie” was a 30-year-plus member of the Kern County Rangers and twice served as captain of this organization. He loved horses and actively bred and raised registered quarter horses for more than three decades.
In 1969, he was the leading breeder of the American Quarter Horse Association in the Western United States. “Brownie” retired his tree service company in Kern County in 1977 and moved to Pine Creek where he built his log home, ran his sawmill and rode ol’ Tom (most of the time) until his health would no longer allow it.
He will be greatly missed by all who loved him and by so many influenced by his unmatched work ethic and family ties.
He leaves behind his wife, Judy Parker; sons, Mike Parker of Dallas, Texas, Joe Parker of Federal Way, Wash., Jesse Parker of La Grande, and George Parker of Dallas, Texas; daughters, Sally Ayers of Dallas, Texas, Kathy Hayes of Dallas, Texas, and Michelle Wilson of Halfway; a brother, Jerry Parker of Santa Maria, Calif.; 28 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.
He was preceded in death by brothers, Ed Parker, Ray Parker, Earl Parker; and his sister Faye Hardwick.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation or the Crippling Osteoporosis Foundation through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, May 10, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor