Michael "Mike" Parker

Michael James Parker, son of the late James Robert “JR” and Jane Louise (Hendricks) Parker was born August 7, 1947, in Modesto, California, and passed away March 31, 2020, at Mercy in Springfield, Missouri. He was 72 years, 7 months, and 24 days of age.

Mike grew up in Modesto and was united in marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Mary Katherine “Kathy” Rider, on July 20, 1969, in Carson City, Nevada. In the summer of 1979, they purchased a dairy farm in Norwood, Missouri, and shortly thereafter, relocated to pursue his “life-long” dream of milking cows for a living. Mike and Kathy milked together, side by side, for over 30 years. Mike loved spending time on the farm and being with his wife. They were inseparable. He also worked as a roofing contractor for over 50 years in both Missouri and California. Mike was a strong man and a hard worker but he also had a soft heart. He would give anyone the shirt off of his back.

Mike enjoyed his kids, his grandkids, his church family, and spending time with those he loved. He also loved going out to eat with anyone who was available at the moment. He enjoyed watching football and was an avid Trump supporter. He enjoyed watching Trump rallies and supporting the President in any way he could.

Besides his parents, Mike was preceded in death by his wife, Kathy Parker, on April 18, 2010, and by a son, Douglas Busby.

He is survived by three daughters, Barbie Dewey of Ozark, Missouri, Beverly Morrow (Aaron) of Cheshire, Oregon, and Becky Parker (Jason Kuster) of Mountain Grove, Missouri, three brothers, Eldon Parker (Dorothy) of Modesto, California, Danny Parker (Frieda) of Denair, California, and David Parker of Junction City, Oregon, eight grandchildren, Josh Busby, Ryan Dewey, Hailey Pojar, Madison and McKenzie Morrow, Augustus “Gus”, Cole, and Rileigh Sinning, four great-grandchildren, Jackson, Madilyn, Lucas, and Ava, three granddogs, Hank, Benny, and Ralph, and one grandpig, Molly B., and many other relatives, neighbors, and friends who will dearly miss him.