Timothy Sanders Parker

Surrounded by his wife and three children, Timothy Sanders Parker (Tim) passed away peacefully on September 29, 2025, at Sacred Ground Hospice House in Knoxville, TN. He was 66. Truth be told, had the Atlanta Braves' season ended a day earlier, Tim would have passed on the 28th, but he had to watch one more win before leaving this world.

Born to Bob and Jean Parker on Cherry Point Military Base in North Carolina on May 13, 1959, Tim was the 8th of 9 children. Primarily growing up in Marietta, Georgia and Upland, California (we're still not sure how his parents moved all 11 of them across the country), Tim quickly developed a sharp sense of humor to both stand out and act as family mediator. That sense of humor and desire to make others feel seen, heard, and cared for carried him through life. Tim looked for the good in people while maintaining a playground sense of justice and hope for a better world for his grandkids. With the exception of baseball, milkshakes, and Kroger brand salsa, Tim loved nothing more than his family.

Tim graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Physical Education. He soon moved to Knoxville where he received a Masters in Education from the University of Tennessee. After graduating, Tim started his career at UT as an academic advisor to student-athletes before serving as Associate Director of academic advising in the College of Business. His love of sports and teaching brought him to the Episcopal School of Knoxville where he served as Athletic Director, Dean of Students, P.E. teacher, multi-sport coach, part-time DJ, and full-time embarrasser of his own children (some of us will never recover from 6th grade Sex Education). Throughout his long teaching career at ESK and later L&N STEM Academy, Tim managed to make all his students feel seen, and never ceased to lighten the mood with a bad joke, silly dance move, or Tootsie Pop.

Tim was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Bob and Jean Parker, his grandparents, and his mother-in-law Betsy Mashburn. He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Missy Parker; his children Kathy Potter (Ryan), Macy Parker (Peter), and Sam Parker (Lucy); his granddaughter Ellis, who adored her "Pa;" his siblings David Muffelman (Pam), Paula Campbell (Greg), Joe Parker (Evelyn), John Parker (Kathi), Robin Parker (Karen), Chet Parker (Mary), Dan Parker (Angela), and Sam Parker (Linda); his in-laws Bob and Ginna Mashburn; his wonderful Aunt Patti; as well as many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.

A celebration of Tim's life will be held at Central United Methodist Church in Knoxville on Saturday, November 8th at 2pm followed by a reception. The service will also be live-streamed on the church's website (knoxcentralumc.org/live-stream/) for those not able to join in person.

In lieu of flowers, Tim's family would love donations to be made to Alzheimer's Tennessee (under "Special Instructions," please indicate you'd like the donation to go to Howard's Circle of Friends - the organization that supported Tim and Missy throughout his battle with Alzheimer's) as well as to Sacred Ground Hospice House.