Patrick Eugene Parker Sr.

Patrick Eugene Parker, Sr., 88, passed away at his home in Denton, Texas on Saturday, September 13, 2025. He was born in Knox City,  Texas to G.H. and Rosa Parker on May 4, 1937, and raised in Abilene. Pat and his siblings faced a lot of hardship growing up, but their mother instilled them with strength while they leaned on each other to get by.

Pat joined the Air Force in 1955 and was stationed in Iceland for a year. He told us many interesting stories involving his AF buddies from that time in Iceland. He finished his service as an Airman Second Class in 1959 at Andrews AFB in Washington, D.C. Near there, at a beach on the Severn River outside of Annapolis, M.D., Pat met the love of his life, Lesleigh (Smith). They married on May 21, 1960, living in Virginia, Fort Worth and Abilene, before settling in Denton to raise their four children.

Pat worked as an electronics technician at General Dynamics and Texas Instruments before owning and operating Pat’s TV Service on Locust St. in Denton for 12 years. He had a soft heart for some of his elderly customers and frequently didn’t charge them for his services. After closing his business, Pat worked at the Denton Post Office for 21 years. He was a maintenance mechanic, servicing the complex mail processing machines and other postal equipment.

Pat loved fishing, hunting, music, and spending time with his family. He learned guitar as a kid and later, the banjo. In the 1970s, he played guitar and sang in country and western bands. In retirement, he was an avid reader and enjoyed all kinds of books. Pat was smart, clever and had a great sense of humor. He appreciated a good joke and liked teasing his kids.

He is survived by his children, Debbie Parker of Denton, Teresa Parker of Denton, Patrick Parker, Jr. of Denton, and Jennifer Conner (Shawn) of The Colony; brother-in- law Dale Cone (Barbara) of Springtown; beloved nieces and nephews; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife Lesleigh, who holds him in her arms once again; their baby daughter Susan Marie; grandchild C.R. Parker; brothers Tom Taylor and Frank Taylor; sisters Marie Parker, June Gire, Margaret Hutsell, and Glenda Cone.

Viewing and visitation will be held at DeBerry Funeral Home from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, September 18, 2025, followed by a  graveside service at Roselawn Memorial Park in Denton.