Taken from the funeral... Misc. Comments:
Co-workers said... He was a good friend, man of God, took time for you.
From family and friends... He was McDonald's burritos, The first person you called was Dad, rebuilding things, woodworking, pranks on Pam, fun with a sink of soapy water or a water hose, in the floor with the grandkids, clink of the keys in a bowl when coming home from work, bored or table games that became a battlefield with broken windows/furniture, played spoons with forks, co-workers playing spoons with screwdrivers, ... the reminder that he wasn't your brother-in-law, but your brother! He became your best friend.
Papaw. By Reagan Browning
I love Papaw. He was nice. He was loving. He was patient and kind. I love him so much. He meant so much to me. Sometimes he would walk into the kitchen at the same time as me and he would sis that I go first, but I let him go first and he would always give me such a big smile. I love him. I know that he is with Jesus in heaven where there's no pain and suffering.
Dad. By Isaiah Parker
There are events in a person's life that changes the remainder of that life. The event that I'm dealing with right now is an absence. I see the rest of my life reflecting back to me in a mirror, but it is missing the reflection of my dad. I mostly see all the places in life that he won't be a part of going forward, and it saddens me. I know the further I get away from this "mirror" the less I will see those empty spaces where he would be. I'm happy and sad to both see those places for now and to maybe not focus on them so acutely sometime in the future. I'm doing ok, but for those of my friends who pray, keep my family in mind for a while.
Darrell Proctor
I have struggled with what to say about the loss of my brother-in-law, Donnie Parker. His memorial service is today.
How do you say goodbye to the brother you never had, your closest and dearest friend, and the person who was with you every step of your adult Journey? The person who helped you navigate relationships with your in-laws and avoid the mistakes that he had made? The person who unconditionally loved you. Who laughed with you in the good times and provided a shoulder for manly tears at times of significant loss. The person who helped you become a better man, husband, and father.
I am comforted by the certainty of the resurrection of seeing Donnie again because of our shared faith in Jesus Christ. I know I will continue to see him and his children and grandchildren's faces.
I am so blessed to have had Donnie in my life.
As written by Donnie Parker on December 28, 1979, 23 years of age, 6 months before he married Patti. Donnie's personal salvation experience.
I was eleven years old and belonged to a family that went to church every Sunday. My association with the church was not new, but I did not know the true meaning of the church. I went to church because my family did. I enjoyed getting gold stars for my Sunday school attendance and meeting other kids.
I had watched my brother, Ronnie, be baptized, but did not fully understand why. I think I knew that God existed, but what he meant to me or what he expected of me was yet to come clear to my mind. At eleven years old, the main thing that concerned me was why you had to get up so early to go to Sunday school and church when you'd rather be home sleeping and doing other things.
We had been members at Eastern Hills Baptist Church in Garland until Mom and Dad decided to visit churches closer to home. We had moved to the country marking the drive to Eastern Hills a little longer than what Mom wanted. We visited a few Baptist churches in towns closer to us. I guess we had visited several Sunday services at Wylie Baptist Church when things started to happen in my life.
As I had said, I think I knew God was there but he had yet to show Himself to me. Anyway, one Sunday I was able to fake being sick so I wouldn't have to go to church. Well, me and my mom watched the First Baptist Church of Dallas on TV when we were in the back making up mine and Ronnie's bed, I asked why all those people at the church walk down to the alter at the end. Her reply was that they were going down to accept Jesus as their personal Savior.
You know that was the first time my mind open and closed all in the same moment. I said something like, "Well, I know He is my King." And that is when it hit me. My mind opened up to Jesus but was closed what was going on around me. I guess I didn't say much more that day to the people around me. It is hard to explain the happiness and the fear that gripped me. The happiness that had come into my life. But also the fear of sudden realization that I had not been baptized and eternal death in hell was very close indeed.
Now you would think that the next Sunday I would run down the aisle at the end of worship service. "Wrong." The battle was just begun. I guess the fear of walking down the aisle in front of people had me stymied. But you know at the end of each service the Lord was dealing with me. Well actually he was dealing with me all through the service for I did not hear the sermons. It became a little harder for me to turn away each Sunday, and each Sunday I had to hold back more tears. It was getting closer to Christmas and I guess I was playing with the thought of going down on Christmas Sunday. The thought of being reborn on the day Jesus was born was a showman's thought.
I knew that each day I turned my back to Jesus was a victory to the devil. I knew Jesus was with me for each day he grew in me. He fed me a little each day so that my mind could absorb the things he gave me. Two weeks before Christmas Sunday in worship service he unlocked the door to my heart and walked in. There was no doubt that he was with me for he filled my whole body with his presence.
When it became time to walk down the aisle I was out and walking down to Reverend Calloway. One of the questions he asked me was if I wanted to wait until my family became members of the church. I thought the question was odd but didn't have to think about it because I answered no immediately. You know I was doing all right until my family also came down to be members of the church. Then the tears of joy began to flow. I was baptized the next Sunday night and my life has never been the same since. I grew with the Lord as my savior, but did not see his plan for me. I guess that was why I that slid for about three years. During those years my praying to God grew but my fellowship to others died to nothing.
Now I promised the Lord once I went back to church I was there to stay. I pray that I might grow in fellowship with people and meet a strong Christian girl. He has answered these prayers with the good Fellowship at Central Park Baptist Church in Richardson. Although I'm not a member the people there make me feel that I am home. God has also blessed me with the association of Patti and her family, Mr. and Mrs. Schremp, Pam, and Paul. They have opened their home and hearts to share God's love and word with me. I pray for God's blessing to this family and for continued association with them.
