Jerry Clyde Parker

Services for Jerry Clyde Parker will be held on Saturday November 23, 2024, at 2:00 at Stewart Family Funeral Home with Dr. David O. Dykes officiating. Burial will follow at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery in Tyler, Texas under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home (family only).
Jerry passed away on November 12, 2024, in Bullard, Texas. He was born April 04, 1942, in Tyler, Texas, to Clyde Parker and Vida Pierce Parker. He was a brother to his sister Jill who was born on the same day April 04, 1948, six years later. Jill Parker McWhorter passed away at the early age of 49. Jerry loved her dearly and their relationship was as close as ever when she passed away. The Parker legacy lives on through grandchildren and in names of remembrance, Mason Clyde Parker and Katherine Jill Parker.
Jerry came from humble beginnings, the son of two schoolteachers. His father Clyde was injured as a result of the service in World War II. Many of you may remember him riding in one of the first motorized wheelchairs to be seen on the roads and streets in Tyler, Texas. He went to Gary Elementary and Hogg Junior High. Jerry was an athlete who excelled in High School. He was a part of the 1959 Robert E. Lee State Championship golf team with teammates TC Hamilton, Steve Nurse, and Ronnie Rhone. He was also a point guard for the basketball team. His success earned him a scholarship to Stephen F. Austin University in both golf and basketball. After his freshman year he would focus on golf.
He would graduate from SFA and go on to intern at the FBI in Houston while going to law school at night (South Texas College of Law). Jerry was able to utilize his father's GI bill to pay for law school. He would graduate from law school and become licensed to practice. He took his first job in Tyler at the District Attorney's office. He prosecuted for a brief period of time before leaving to join Martin Sammons and Joe Clayton in private practice. That law practice would become Sammons & Parker. He practiced law for approximately 50 years before retiring. He was Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and was probably one of the greatest "rain makers" that this area has ever seen in regard to his insurance defense practice. Sammons & Parker was well known in the legal industry both locally and statewide for many years. He enjoyed many partners through the years on the road to success. He was proud to practice law and be partners with his two sons, J. Chad Parker and Todd Parker at the end of his career.
Jerry was a member of Green Acres Baptist Church for many years. He loved the Lord and he loved fellowship with members at Green Acres as well as other churches including Bullard Southern and First Baptist in Bullard. He was affectionately known as "JC" by his many friends, golf partners, and other people who generally migrated to his enthusiastic personality. He loved laughing, joking, and generally being "pumped up" about things that were important to him. One of the most important things to him in his life were his grandchildren. He and his wife Linda Parker went to more sporting events for their grandchildren than anyone that you've ever met. Jerry and Linda never missed an event and if there were two going on at the same time, they would agree to split up so that the grandkids would always know that someone was present.
Golf was a big part of his life for many years into the future, including the friendships he developed at Willow Brook Country Club, a place he had played since he was a young boy. It's been said that he had one of the "prettiest" golf swings around. The putter often eluded him. He wanted his sons to have every opportunity he did not have. He spent most of his life working as hard as he could to provide for his family and create opportunities and advancement. He epitomized what every father should aspire to be. His boys were glad that he was their father. His boys respected and loved him.
Jerry was preceded in death by Clyde E. Parker (father), Jill Parker McWhorter (sister) and Vida Pierce Parker (mother). He is survived by his loving family including his loving wife and most loyal friend, Linda Barfield Parker; his children, J. Chad Parker and wife Rebecca Parker, Todd Parker and wife Lana Parker; grandchildren, Jake Parker, Mason Parker, Zach Parker, Rhett Parker, and Kate Parker; nieces and nephews, Stephanie Demopulos, Lisa Ransleben, David Wharton, Alan Wharton, Laci Moffitt, and Kara Wharton, Robert McWhoter, brother in law Arnold Wharton and sister in laws Julia Wharton and Sherry Barfield.
Visitation is scheduled from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 22, 2024, at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway in Tyler, Texas. Funeral Services will be on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., followed by burial (family only).
The family would appreciate any memorials be a donation to PATH in the name of Jerry Parker. (www.pathhelps.org)