Obituary for George "Joe" Parker
George (Joe) Marshall Parker, age 62, of Walsenburg, CO passed away Sunday, January 29th, 2023 at the Spanish Peaks Veterans Regional Health Center, across Hwy 160 from beautiful Lathrop State Park where George had previously been employed as the senior Aquatics Inspector and spent many a day enjoying the park with his faithful Border Collie companion, Star.
George was born in Denver, CO on November 30th, 1960 to John James Parker (Union Ironworker) and Helen Lavern Parker/Flanagan (housewife). With George’s Dad being a Union Ironworker presented a life of travel and adventure moving across the United States with residents in CO, SD, NV, NM, TX, back to SD, then ND, WY, NE, LA, AR, IN, IL, NY, OH, back to WY, then MT, and finally KS where he graduated High School in 1977 and enlisted immediately into the United States Navy with Boot Camp training at Great Lakes, Naval Training Center, Chicago, IL. Then duty at New London Nuclear Submarine Base, CN followed with three- and one-half years of sea duty in the Pacific Ocean based out of Pearl Harbor, HI on the USS Ponchatoula AO-148 where he stuck out as a storekeeper and be earned his ShellBack. He was injured aboard his ship during a tropical storm ending his desired career early. He received a medical discharge in 1982 as SK3 Parker.
In the fall of 1982, he enrolled in northwestern Community College in Powel, WY graduating with an associate degree in Photojournalism and soon found himself in Hollywood, CA as a still photographer for the movie industry. His ability to write unique captions for movie still photo advertising provided him the opportunity to step into the photojournalism world circa 1988 as a newspaper photographer story writer. Longing to return to his native Colorado, he stepped away from the fast life back into the country lifestyle and quickly found himself along with his older brother, Jeff, purchasing a residence east of Walsenburg in Navajo Estates in August 2001. Shortly thereafter his people skills landed him in the world of land and home acquisition as a realtor where he joined the sales staff of Acorn Reality. He eventually left real estate to enjoy his love for the great Colorado outdoors to work for Colorado Parkes and Wildlife as an aquatic boat inspector and shortly thereafter as senior aquatic inspector.
A medical condition forced him to leave Lathrop State Park and become a Huerfano County Process Server via a by name interview, a position tailor made for him and his talent and knowledge. For the past six years, George was also employed by the city of La Veta, CO at the Francisco Fort Museum as a docent of the museum’s historical riches. In addition, he was elected and served as a member of the state’s prestigious Colorado Historical Society in trusted stewardship and preservation of the state’s historic treasures and educational resources.
George was preceded in death by his loving mother in 1966, father in 1998, older brother Dub in 1997 and younger brother Jeff in 2002.
George is survived by: one older brother, Stan Parker and his wife Anna of Colorado Springs, CO; eight nephew’s; four grandnephew; and nine grandnieces. Memorial services celebrating George’s amazing life will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, February 4th, 2023 at the Huerfano Community Bible Church, 603 Leon Ave, Walsenburg, CO.
George was born in Denver, CO on November 30th, 1960 to John James Parker (Union Ironworker) and Helen Lavern Parker/Flanagan (housewife). With George’s Dad being a Union Ironworker presented a life of travel and adventure moving across the United States with residents in CO, SD, NV, NM, TX, back to SD, then ND, WY, NE, LA, AR, IN, IL, NY, OH, back to WY, then MT, and finally KS where he graduated High School in 1977 and enlisted immediately into the United States Navy with Boot Camp training at Great Lakes, Naval Training Center, Chicago, IL. Then duty at New London Nuclear Submarine Base, CN followed with three- and one-half years of sea duty in the Pacific Ocean based out of Pearl Harbor, HI on the USS Ponchatoula AO-148 where he stuck out as a storekeeper and be earned his ShellBack. He was injured aboard his ship during a tropical storm ending his desired career early. He received a medical discharge in 1982 as SK3 Parker.
In the fall of 1982, he enrolled in northwestern Community College in Powel, WY graduating with an associate degree in Photojournalism and soon found himself in Hollywood, CA as a still photographer for the movie industry. His ability to write unique captions for movie still photo advertising provided him the opportunity to step into the photojournalism world circa 1988 as a newspaper photographer story writer. Longing to return to his native Colorado, he stepped away from the fast life back into the country lifestyle and quickly found himself along with his older brother, Jeff, purchasing a residence east of Walsenburg in Navajo Estates in August 2001. Shortly thereafter his people skills landed him in the world of land and home acquisition as a realtor where he joined the sales staff of Acorn Reality. He eventually left real estate to enjoy his love for the great Colorado outdoors to work for Colorado Parkes and Wildlife as an aquatic boat inspector and shortly thereafter as senior aquatic inspector.
A medical condition forced him to leave Lathrop State Park and become a Huerfano County Process Server via a by name interview, a position tailor made for him and his talent and knowledge. For the past six years, George was also employed by the city of La Veta, CO at the Francisco Fort Museum as a docent of the museum’s historical riches. In addition, he was elected and served as a member of the state’s prestigious Colorado Historical Society in trusted stewardship and preservation of the state’s historic treasures and educational resources.
George was preceded in death by his loving mother in 1966, father in 1998, older brother Dub in 1997 and younger brother Jeff in 2002.
George is survived by: one older brother, Stan Parker and his wife Anna of Colorado Springs, CO; eight nephew’s; four grandnephew; and nine grandnieces. Memorial services celebrating George’s amazing life will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, February 4th, 2023 at the Huerfano Community Bible Church, 603 Leon Ave, Walsenburg, CO.