Raymond McKinley Parks

Mr. Raymond McKinley Parks passed away Jan. 19, 2009, in Bonney Lake, Wash., following a lengthy illness. He was born on Jan. 27, 1939 in Buchanan County, Va., to Stella (Wyatt) and the late Zelia Columbus Parks. He was 2nd oldest of 10 children in a very loving family. Mr. Parks worked as a commercial truck driver during the building of the Alyeska Pipeline, and as a commercial fisherman in Cook Inlet. Mr. Parks left Alaska in 1984 to reside in Florida and then summers on the East Coast with family and winters in Washington. He primarily worked as a cross country commercial trucker until his death. Ray enjoyed piloting small aircraft in his Alaska years, and he had many stories of his travels coast to coast as a trucker. Mr. Parks also enjoyed playing the banjo, guitar and harmonica and singing "Mountain Music" that he learned from his father as a boy. The family states: Dad "Never met a stranger" and made many friends over his lifetime. Mr. Parks possessed a kind and loving soul and loved his children and grandchildren very dearly, and leaves all who knew him with many special memories. Mr. Parks was preceded in death by his father, Zelia Parks, and his youngest brother, Tony Parks. He is survived by his daughter, Adrianna V. Parks-Wickern of Bonney Lake, Wash.; son, Christopher R. Parks of Tacoma, Wash.; grandchildren, Zachary C. Parks, Keegan L. Hopson and Madalin R. Parks of Washington State; mother, Stella Parks of Claypool Hill, Va.; brothers, Calvin Parks and wife, Melba, of Fayetville, Tenn., Bobby Parks and wife, Debbie, of Richlands, Va., and Donnie Parks and wife, Rhonda, of Pounding Mill, Va.; sisters, Ruby Arwood and husband, Ron, of Paintlick, Va., Jean Robinson and husband, Karl, of Piney Flats, Tenn., Opal Elswick and husband, Jim, of Mill Creek, Va., Joyce Short and husband, Jason, of Claypool Hill, Va., and Patsy Coleman and husband, Ronnie, of Steelsburg, Va. He also leaves numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends in Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio, Alaska, Washington and across the US. A memorial service for Mr. Parks will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sat., Jan. 31, 2009 at the Richlands Tabernacle in Richlands, Va., with the Rev. Ancil Childress and Rev. Ralph Horton officiating. Donations may be made in Mr. Parks' name to the American Cancer Society or the charity of the donor's choice. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Va., is in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com .