Chester Parker

Chester Lee Herrod Parker

A memorial service is scheduled for 2:00 pm, Thursday, January 3, 2013 at Christs Church for Chester Lee Parker, 69, who passed away on Sunday, December 30, 2012 at Casa Maria Health Care Center surrounded by his loved ones. Receptionpot luck to follow in Christs Church Youth Center.

Chester was born October 2, 1943 in LaFollette, Tennessee to Sam and Juanita Parker Herrod. Chester was raised by his grandparents Robert Lee and Marie Parker, and also by Clifford Mundy and Chesters mother Juanita Mundy who all preceded him in death. Chester married Carol Ann Hillebrand on December 4, 1965 in Allen Park, Michigan. She survives him of the family home in Roswell.

Chester is also survived by his sons Timothy Lee Parker and Robert Lee Parker daughter Sissy Maroney and husband Judd sisters Linda Dokey and husband Ken, Cookie Osmak and husband Jim and Matilda Spivey and husband David daughterinlaw Katie Parker grandchildren Parker Maroney, Joshua Parker, Cash Maroney and Grace Ann Parker nephews and nieces Derek and wife Kelly, Jason and wife Stacy, Anndrea and husband Dan, Michael and wife Beth and Adam and wife Holly seven grand nephews and nieces and his beloved canine companion, Reagan.

Chester was raised in the Kentucky and Tennessee mountain regions during his early years and one of his favorite memories was bacon piled high, biscuits and gravy, and his Grannys cooking. He enjoyed fishing and walking in the mountains with his family during this time. He then moved to Michigan in his youth.
He graduated from Taylor Center High School in 1963 and attended Northern Michigan University earning a degree in marketing and management. He was involved with the heavy civilhighwayairport construction industry in some aspect for over 50 years and has worked with numerous companies on projects on every continent in the world except Antarctica. Chester had lived or worked in 40 countries as well as every state in the United States except 5. From Project SuperintendentProject Manager positions in construction, to international construction equipment sales as AsiaPacific Regional Manager for CMITerex, to consulting, to helping associates with job placement, to random advice offering, to inventing devices to assist the mobility impaired, to his philanthropic work, Chester was known as a creative problem solver with a larger than life personality. In his early life he restored classic cars, participated in sanctioned drag racing events as a builderracer, worked as a Sheriffs deputy for Wayne County, Michigan, and was a member of the Machinists Union in Michigan.
He drew loyalty from every tier of society in the countries and organizations he was involved with. He was a shrewd international business person having developed deep relationships in most of the countries he visited. Weekly, Chester was on the phone with various friends around the world. Chester was also known to have a reputation that within 7 to 10 days of him leaving a country some civil unrest or uprising would occur. This happened in at least 6 countries he worked in leading close family and friends to believe his work was a little more than construction related although never proven. When in the states and especially in the later years, when Chester would meet an international person he would always asked have you ever eaten at this restaurant, it was a good one or have you driven along the that road I built it. In the years prior to his semiretirement, Chester worked with long time friends Bill Armstrong and Pat McGill at Armstrong Construction.

The family extends deep gratitude to the numerous family and friends who have stood in the gap over the past years in helping with dad. The family thanks the staff of Fresenius, ENMMC, Renal Associates and various physiciansstaff. A special Casa Maria and his girls for making his remaining time on Earth comfortable and meaningful. Thank you to Ballard Funeral Home for taking care of the funeral arrangements.

The family asks in lieu of flowersgifts that donations be made in dads name to one of the two local outreaches he supported: Harvest Ministries, 601 N. Main, Roswell, NM 88201 or Johnny Gonzales Ministries, 1620 N. Montana, Roswell, NM 88201.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Ballard Funeral Home and Crematory. An online registry can be accessed at www.ballardfuneralhome.com

Service

Memorial Service

Christs Church
2200 N. Sycamore
Roswell, NM  88201
Thursday, January 3, 2013
2:00 pm

Reception

Christs Church
2200 N. Sycamore
Roswell, NM  88201
Thursday, January 3, 2013
3:00 pm

Memorial Contributions

601 N. Main
Roswell, NM  88201


1620 N. Montana
Roswell, NM  88201