Gary Dale Parkey

Gary Dale Parkey, a native Tulsan, born 1939, and resident of Elkins Arkansas, passed away surrounded by his children, wife and extended family as the soundtrack of his life played quietly in the background. As Harry Chapin said, ‘All your life's a circle.' Dale's life was certainly a full and spirited circle. He graduated in 1958 with the first class of Edison High School. He went on to graduate from Oklahoma State University, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, GO POKES! G. Dale maintained an interior design business in Tulsa and started the Interior Design program at Tulsa Community College. He loved a good game of pool, strumming his guitar fireside, reminiscing about his adventures down the Arkansas River and telling brow-raising jokes. He was a member of the First Baptist Church Elkins, Arkansas. He is survived by his wife Shirley, his children; Chad, Shana, Melinda, Michelle and their spouses; his former wife Juliana; brothers Ike, Bud and Bill; six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; and one on its way (who call him G. Pa); and many nieces and nephews who loved him as Uncle Dale. Church services will take place on Thursday, February 14, 2019 at 10 a.m. at Elkins First Baptist Church. Graveside services will take place at 3 p.m. following the services on Thursday at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa under the direction of Beard's Chapel. The family will receive friends from 2:30-5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at Beard's Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Juvenile Diabetes, www.jdrf.org. Condolences at www.beardsfuneralchapel.com.