Johnny Parker

Graveside service for Johnny Parker, Sr., 79, of Nacogdoches, will be held at 2:00 PM, on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at Saints Rest Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM on Monday, December 2, 2024, at Laird Funeral Home. 

Not everyone gets to experience happiness that lasts a lifetime.  Johnny Parker’s family was blessed enough to have a man who stood beside them, supported them and most importantly….he loved them dearly.  His life was filled with many happy times and when struggles reared their ugly head, he stood firm and worked through them.  He was a simple man with great values and a heart as big as the wonderful state of Texas that he called home.

Johnny grew up the small community of Paxton where he spent a childhood learning to love things like hunting, fishing and all the little stuff boys were taught in order to become what men should be.  His knowledge of how a man leads a productive and rewarding life, began with an impeccable work ethic.  He was a “jack of all trades” who worked his entire life.  He was a lineman for Deep East Texas, driver for Hopkin’s Wrecker Service, spent time working in the family logging business with his son and son-in-law, ran equipment for the Nix family and drove a dumptruck for Rockin’ C Trailer company.  Driving a truck cross country was where he began his work career and as he stopped into Lou’s Café one day, he caught the eye of a young lady.  His good looks and the 18-wheeler he was driving had her smitten.  Glenda Bivens was the love of his life and on February 5, 1973 she became his wife.  Since then, they spent every day together, side by side, and neither of them failed to support each other.  Right or wrong, they did it together.  These days were the best they could ever ask for and the sudden loss of her best friend, after 51 years of marriage, leaves an emptiness in Glenda that will never be filled. 

Johnny and Glenda raised their children with the same values that defined their lives.  They were very proud of their family and what they grew up to be.  Karen was forever his “baby girl” and Johnny never got away from being “PeeWee” to his daddy.  But grandchildren simply filled their lives with a different kind of love.  Hearing PawPaw or Pops were words Johnny loved and having them around was a joy like no other.  Missing the hero in their lives will be hard but forgetting the love he showed them and how he loved his family and those around him will never happen. 

Johnny is survived by his loving and supportive bride, Glenda; children, Karen Hasley & husband Scott, Johnny Parker, Jr. & wife Christy and Shelly Gardner & husband Curt; grandchildren, Morgan Hasley, Cris Hasley & wife Shelby, Cole Hasley, Tyler Parker & wife Monica, Taylor Parker & girlfriend Elizabeth, Hunter Parker, Michelle Wynn & husband Bobby, Riley Gardner & wife Savannah, Kasie Rickman, Chris Rickman & wife Karissa, Mathew Rickman, Samantha Hannah & husband Taylor, Christy Revils & husband Tanner and Taylor Guida; great grandchildren, Raylee, Kensley, James, Christy, Kyle, Reece, Sophia, Jaxon, Boden, Teagan, Pippen, Miles, Maizey, Millie and Mim; sister-in-law, Theresa Johnson & husband Glenn, Deb Askew and Daleen Bivens; brother-in-law, Jerry Bivens and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Jim Parker and Edna Randalph; father & mother-in-law,  JB & Maggie Daw; sister, Linda Fountain & husband Terry; brother, James Gipson; brothers-in-law, Coleman Bivens and Glenn Askew and sister-in-law, Polly Bivens.

Serving as pallbearers will be Terry Fountain, Jesse Fountain, Jeremy Fountain, Jimmy Bivens, Kelly Packard and Daniel Miller.

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