Stephen Ross Parker Sr.

Stephen Ross Parker Sr., 74, of Texarkana, Arkansas, passed away Friday, August 12, 2016, at Hospice of Texarkana. Mr. Parker was retired from Texarkana Resources for the Disabled after 33 years as Executive Director. He worked to better the lives of people with disabilities who wanted to work. He is preceded in death by his parents, A.G. and Ferrell Parker, of Texarkana. He is survived by his wife, Linda Fayad of Texarkana, Arkansas; son, Stephen Parker Jr. of Texarkana, Texas; daughter, Tracy Norton of Islip Terrace, New York; sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Jeff Hunter of Waco, Texas; brother, Jim Parker of Texarkana, Texas; three grandchildren: Emma McGaugh, Kate McGaugh, and Lizzie Norton all of Islip Terrace, New York. Memorial graveside service was held 2 p.m., Monday, August 15, 2016, at Hillcrest Memorial Park with his cousin George McWilliams officiating. Memorials may be sent to Texarkana Resources for the Disabled at 3015 East 19th Street, Texarkana, Arkansas, 71854, or Hospice of Texarkana at 2407 Galleria Oaks Drive, Texarkana, Texas, 75503. Condolences may be left at www.eastfuneralhomes.com as services are under the direction of East Funeral Home-Moores Lane. Ross received his Bachelor of Science degree from North Texas State University in 1965 and following his military service, achieved his Master of Science in Clinical Psychology, also from North Texas State. He was a Vietnam Veteran where he served as a Lieutenant JG in the United States Navy. Ross served aboard the USS Virgo, a munitions ship in Vietnam, for three years which benefited him in his abilities to assume responsibility and lead people. His responsibilities included serving as a Nuclear Weapons Specialist, Gunnery Officer, and Navigator. Following his military career, he moved to Houston, Texas, where he engaged in several entrepreneurial endeavors, one of his businesses being The Texas Opry House where Waylon and Willie came through. "Kinky Friedman was one of my regulars down there," he once said. He transitioned into working for Harris County Psychological Services. "At the time, I was interested in testing, evaluating and working with people," he said. He found a niche with special needs individuals that would define the balance of his career. Ross returned to Texarkana in 1980. As fate would have it, there was a directorship available at Texarkana Sheltered Workshop, the predecessor to Texarkana Resources for the Disabled. The facility was located in an old casket factory on Whitaker Street in Texarkana, Texas. It was his desire to transform the center into a work model to better serve adults with disabilities by preparing and providing them real work. He worked vigorously to secure loans and successfully built a 14,000 square foot facility focusing on providing new opportunities for people with mental and physical disabilities. This was followed by future projects, including a new residential facility to provide supervised housing for adult men with disabilities to call "home." Ross never expected recognition or honor from his many accomplishments. He was extremely gracious and humble with all those involved at Texarkana Resources, including employees, board of directors, community leaders, clients and families. Despite his humility, he was honored numerous times for community service in Texarkana, including Arkansas Business of the Year Finalist for Non-profit Executive of the Year in 2012. One of his greatest pleasures was to see clients leave his work program to take regular employment within the community. Ross worked tirelessly with the United Way to raise funds for Texarkana Resources as well as other United Way agencies. Additionally, he took pride in longstanding relationships with local business leaders. Upon his retirement in 2013, the Texarkana Resources Board of Directors renamed the facility Texarkana Resources Ross Parker Training Center.