Orville 'Pappy' Parker, 100
Orville "Pappy" Parker, 100, passed away Wednesday, April 30, 2008, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell. He was born March 31, 1908, in Knowles, Okla., to James and Delphia (Erhard) Parker. He was one of eight children.
Orville married Florence Withrow on Aug. 4, 1928. He worked on ranches in Oklahoma and Kansas until 1936, when they moved to Montana. They settled in the Mountain Brook area, and Orville went to work falling timber with a crosscut saw. In 1941, the couple moved to Vancouver, Wash., where he had his own crew of men while working in the shipyards. In 1945, the family moved back to the Flathead, where Orville operated his own concrete business. He started O.N. Parker and Son Lumber Co. in 1951 and moved the family to Fortine. Orville was known as "Pappy Parker" to his crew. In 1970, they moved to Browning to log until selling his business and retiring in 1974.
Orville still worked in the woods part-time for many years and enjoyed spending many hours in his 1-acre garden. It was a garden that provided an abundance of produce that was sold or given to many friends, neighbors or those in need.
Orville was preceded in death by his loving wife of 76 years, Florence, in 2004; his parents; five brothers; two sisters; and one son, Roger.
He is survived by three daughters, Billie Nelson and Earl, and Betty Wise, both of Kalispell, and Chrystal Schonrock of Alaska; one son, Bobby Parker, and Phyllis, of Kalispell; 15 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.
Orville spent his long life sharing his love with his family and many friends.
Funeral services for Orville will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 5, in the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home chapel, with Paul Arends of the Cowboy Church officiating. Burial will be a private service in the Wise Family Cemetery.
Memorial gifts may be given to the Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99210.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Orville's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Orville's guest book.