Obituaries

James Winfred Parker

James Winfred Parker, age 86, of Rye, Ark., departed this life on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. He was born Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1929 near Parnell Springs, Ark., the second child of James Rucker Parker and Florence Ethel Moseley Parker. Growing up, his parents, aunts and uncles called him "Jimmy." Winfred was a U.S. Army veteran, a former employee of the Bradley Mill in Warren, Ark., and an accomplished carpenter. Winfred also made a living raising tomatoes from the 1950's until this last summer of 2015. In Winfred's later years, people would travel from hundred of miles away to pick his tomatoes at his farm in Rye, Ark. for home consumption and resale. He was widely regarded as a top notch tomato farmer. Winfred was an avid outdoorsman as exemplified by his passion for quail hunting for many years. He was a top deer hunter as well, taking his last two bucks just this past fall. His deer stand on the creek at the family farm is a monument to his memory and a place of honor to any hunter who will sit there in the future. Winfred married his Sweetheart, Martha Virginia Young Parker on June 4, 1949 and remained a loyal husband for 66 years until his death. Together they had four sons: Jim, Tim, Joey, and Todd. Winfred was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother and another brother, Paul Dean Parker as well as by his much loved Granddaughter, Elizabeth Parker. He is survived by his beloved wife, Martha; a sister, Ouita Jo Reap of Warren, Ark. and sons: Jim Parker of Rye, Ark., Tim Parker (Amy) of Eureka Springs, Ark., Joey Parker (Shawn) of Rye, Ark.,. and Todd Parker of Palm Springs, Calif., together with six grandchildren and a host of friends and relatives. Graveside service will be 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 5 at Union Cemetery at Rye, Ark. by Frazer's Funeral Home. Visitation is 6-8 p.m., Monday, Jan. 4 at Frazer's. Online guest register: www.frazerfuneralhome.com.

Published January 4, 2016

Upcoming Events