Hollis Elmer Parker

1919 - 2014

October 23, 1919 – March 28, 2014

ODESSA Hollis E. Parker beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away on March 28, 2014 at home surrounded by his loved ones and his dog Mindy.

Hollis Elmer Parker was born in Clarksville, Texas to Cullie B and Emily Widner Parker. He graduated from Forsan High School where he excelled in all sports. He received a basketball scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin where he attended for a short time before he went to work as a welder. As with most men from the Greatest Generation, he proudly served his country during World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy and stationed on Johnson Island, Hawaii.

Hollis married Jimmie Nell Holcombe, October 31, 1948 at the First Methodist Church in Lamesa, Texas. He was a partner in a business in Kermit, before returning to work for El Paso Natural Gas. He and Jimmie Nell lived across the southwest U.S. including nine years in Arizona working for El Paso Natural Gas as a welder and later a pipeline inspector. Eventually Hollis was transferred to the El Paso Product plant in Odessa and during his 31 year tenure, he missed only ½ day of work.

He was a perfectionist in everything he did. A supervisor once said, "Hollis was an expert golfer, welder, and builder." He built his home in west Odessa where beloved pastor of the First Methodist Church, Dr. Orbin Turner and his wife, were frequent visitors. Many times Pastor Turner would say, "this is the house love built" because he knew the love and time it took to build the house of their dreams. Hollis and Jimmie Nell were also quite avid vegetable gardeners and shared their bounty with friends and neighbors.

Hollis loved his family and was an inspiration to them with his love, patience and his goodness. He never lectured his children but they saw how he lived his life and they learned from him. He worked with his sons in scouting where both Rod and Joe Pat earned their Eagle Scout Awards. He went on many trips with them to assist the scoutmaster in any way he could.

He loved all sports but he had a deep passion for golf. He played in many West Texas golf tournaments and he had more than his share of first place finishes.

One of his biggest regrets in life was not completing his college education. It was his dream that his three children graduate from college and to his pleasure, Rod graduated from Texas Tech University while Joe Pat and Pam graduated from the University of Texas at Austin.

Hollis is survived by his beloved wife Jimmie Nell, son Rod E Parker and his wife Barbara of Odessa; daughter Pam Wortham and her husband Richard of Austin. His grandchildren include Lori Parker Thakran and her husband Paven of New Delhi, India, Lindsey Hines and her husband Heath of Bryan; Erin Wortham of Pflugerville and Bryan Parker and his fiancee Rachel Bass of Fort Worth. His great grandchildren include Ethan and Asha Thakran of New Deli, India and Hayden and Cooper Hines of Bryan, Texas.

Funeral services are planned at Acres West Funeral Home, Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at 10:00 am to celebrate the life of Hollis E. Parker. Interment to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Odessa, Texas.