Omar S. Parker Jr.

Omar Parker Obituary

Omar S. PARKER, Jr. Died of natural causes on August 18, 2003. He was born April 10, 1945 in Jacksonville, Florida to Omar S. and Dorothea M. Parker. He leaves his five beloved children Omar III, Christopher, Julie, Melissa and Amy as well as his father Omar, his brother Jon and his wife Kathy and his brother Tim and his wife Marsha and six nephews and four nieces and their families. He was preceded in death by his mother Dorothea. He grew up in Hoquiam, Washington. At Hoquiam High School he was an All Conference and All State athlete. He was Student Body President and Class Salutatorian. In 1966 Omar married his high school sweetheart Suzi Grant. He attended the University of Washington from 1963-1968 where he was a 3-year letterman on the Husky football team, and a member of the Big W Club. He was drafted by the National Football League but elected to attend the University of Oregon Law School where he served as Executive Editor of the Law Review and graduated Order of the Coif in 1971. He was a well respected lawyer in Seattle for many years. He was elected to the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and was variously recognized as one of the leading real estate lawyers in the state of Washington. He successfully coached his children, their friends and countless others on Mercer Island and came to regret that he had not chosen coaching as a career-a dream his son, Omar III is fulfilling at the University of Missouri. In July, he was proud to give his oldest daughter Julie away at her joyous wedding and dance at her rowdy reception with all of his family and many friends in attendance. His son Christopher is a CPA and works in the Seattle area. His daughter Melissa works for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. His youngest daughter Amy is beginning her second year of law school. He was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church serving on the Mutual Ministries Committee for years. He was a member of the 101 Club and the Tyee Club. He enjoyed his fellow members at the Overlake Country Club. There will be a private interment in Hoquiam, Washington. A Memorial Service will be held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Mercer Island at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 23rd. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Grays Harbor YMCA, 2500 Simpson Ave., Hoquiam, WA. 98550.

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Published by The Seattle Times from Aug. 21 to Aug. 22, 2003.

Memories and Condolences
for Omar Parker

10 Entries

Helen MacMillan Redwine

July 7, 2024

Sending my warmest condolences. With love from Helen and Owen

Robb Menaul

August 28, 2003

I just read of Omar's death a day or two ago, returning from vacation. What a shock.

I played basketball against Omar in high school. The Centralia vs. Hoquiam games were always competitive and always ended the same: Omar dominating in the middle; Centralia losing.

He was a great competitor. I always will think of him as indestructable.

Sasha Millstein

August 27, 2003

Dearest Parkers,

I am sorry for your loss. Over the years I have come to trust the fact that you are one of the strongest and most loving families. It is one of the reasons why I have stayed friends with Amy for this long.

My first encounter with 'Mr. Parker' was also my first encounter with the game of basketball. As you can imagine, it was probably the first time I ever cried at practice but centainly not the last. He worked a bunch of eighth grade girls SO hard that we went from being the worst team in the league to the BEST team. I'll never forget 'Mr. Parker's' magic words during half time. I waited for them like an omen as to whether or not we would win the game. During halftime, he would look at every single one of us in the eyes and in a low voice say "Second half is your half girls". He never mispoke either. Every time he utterred those words we finished the game with a win on our side. Sometimes I think that he knew the game and his players so well, he already knew the outcome.

I will forever be indebted to the inspiration he provided to us awkward eighth grade girls (me probably being the most awkward:see picture for proof) and his love for the game.

I hope you will use his inspiration to continue to stay close to each other as I've witnessed over the past decade.

To all the Parkers, thank you for YOUR inspiration over the years.

Lisa Travers

August 24, 2003

Although I had not recently been in touch with Omar, he will be dearly missed by me. As a child I always looked up to him and found him to be a wonderful father to his children. I enjoyed his sense of humor and found him to be an all-around nice guy.

I will always remember when I was a small child how terrified I was when he'd pick me up high above his head and try to make me smile and all the times he spent filming Christmas get togethers with the family.

Omar's family and friends are blessed to have had him in their lives. Deepest sympathies to all. . .

Ken Erickson

August 24, 2003

Omar brought something special to our HHS class of "63", his demeanor on the field or court and his intellect in the classroom. He was one that we all looked up to, and will be greatly missed by all.

Byron Spoon

August 23, 2003

Word of Omar's passing is surely sending shockwaves through the HHS class of '63. As his classmate I remember his serious competitiveness and playful humor. He gave me the moniker "Fork" in high school. He will be missed by those he touched.

Bradford Holtan

August 23, 2003

Dearest Parker family,

I am so sorry for your loss. You have my deepest condolences. My memories of Omar go way back. I remember him squeezing my shoulders so hard that I thought that I would collapse right there wherever we were. I also remember him calling me "badman" as my name is Brad. Maybe he was calling me Brad Man, but I always heard "badman" Along with many other memories from me growing up with your family, I remember Omar as a very strong, intellegent, superior man. His memory will always live on with me and he will be greatly missed.

Jim Hanson

August 22, 2003

Omar was one of the good ones!

Barbara K Olson/Huffman

August 22, 2003

Omar will be dearly missed, I know, by his wonderful family and friends.

Although we had not recently seen Omar we were good friends in high school and years following. Suzie and I lived together in Seattle and I remember him and Dave Pendergraft coming over. Walt and I visited with them in Eugene, Or as he attended college and Walt golfed with Omar and the family at tournaments at the County Club.

Everyone missed Omar at the 40th class reunion this year but we were so happy he was able to be at Julie's wedding.

Omar put Hoquiam on the map duing his high school years and helped to make our class well known in the halls of HHS. His family should remember the "good times".

I hope to see many of you at the memorial. God Bless. Barb & Walt Huffman

Kenneth Linder

August 22, 2003

I am proud to have been one of Omar's high school teachers. He was a wonderful person and student leader in class and on the football field.

He shall be missed but left all of us with wonderful memories.

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