Harold "Skeeter" Clayton Parker

South Arkansas lost a true gentleman on Friday, Oct. 22, 2010, with the passing of Harold Clayton "Skeeter" Parker, 81. The son of Grace Anderson Parker and John Booker Parker, Skeeter was born Nov. 2, 1928 in Norphlet, Ark., and grew up hunting and fishing along the Ouachita river his entire life. Mr. Parker was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Billy J. Parker; nephew, Gary Thomas Murphy; and his beloved dog, Mingo. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Christine Long Parker; one nephew, Clay Murphy (Kathryn); three nieces, Anne Murphy Shelton (Marty), Christa Parker Meeks (Richard), Tamra Parker Coleman (Jerry); one great-nephew, four great-nieces, and one "adopted" family member, Captain USNR Ret. Bruce L. Frye (Lois). Skeeter served his country in the U.S. Navy on the destroyers U.S.S. ROWAN and U.S.S Henderson and was with Admiral Byrd's last expedition to the South Pole. Serving from 1946-1948, he was awarded the Victory WWII ribbon. He returned to school, met and married his "high school" sweetheart, Christine. Skeeter worked for Amoco Oil Corporation in El Dorado and Alvin, Texas, for twenty plus years and then worked for MacMillan until his second retirement. Many folks in south Arkansas still fondly recall Skeeter's fabulous cooking: fish fry's, BBQ's and especially his "yummy" baked beans. Skeeter was a gentle soul and a practical joker; kind to all he met and loving to all. Harold Parker touched so many lives with his endless love and humor. He loved people, animals and children. Who else could raise orphan owls, feed a lizard crickets by hand, or be kind to a king snake? He has left a big hole in the heart of those who knew him and shoes that cannot be filled. A memorial service officiated by Jeff Mason will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010 at Young's Chapel in El Dorado. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Union County Animal Protection Society, Inc. P.O. Box 204 El Dorado, Ark., 71731-0204 or to the charity of their choice. An online registry is available at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.