Frank Eugene Parker, 83, a longtime Skagit County resident passed away on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 at the Burton Care Center in Burlington.
He was born on April 26, 1923 in Jackson County, North Carolina to Perry and Ola Alexander Parker.
He was raised and attended school in North Carolina and from Raleigh, NC he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942, serving his country during WW II in the Pacific.
He married Fearbia Ocatavia Kathleen Moore on October 28, 1945 in Sylva, North Carolina and they came to Washington in the fall of 1948, settling in Punkin Center, Hamilton.
He went to work at Lone Star Cement until 1950 when he began logging for Sound Timber, now known as the Scott Paper Co., and other logging companies. In 1955 he opened his own business, Triangle Shake Mill, in Hamilton and passed on his knowledge of the business to many of his employees. While he ran the mill he and Fearbia also ran a small farm where they raised cattle and produce and with their children.
After closing the mill in 1967, he went to work for Intalco Aluminum in Ferndale, Washington, doing plant maintenance and in 1969 he and Fearbia moved to Van Zandt, Washington. In 1978 they moved to Ferndale and Frank retired from Intalco on November 1, 1985. They moved back to Sedro-Woolley in 1999 and remained there until moving to Burton Care Center together.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Perry and Ola, two brothers, Lawrence and Robert; five sisters, Stella, Bessie Lee, Nora, Lili Mae and Alma; two daughters-in-law, Marie and Candy, and one grandson, Jeffrey Lee Parker.
He is survived by his daughter, Frankie Jean Tom Bigelow, and his four sons, Clark Gail Parker, and Ron Gale Parker, John Ann Parker, and Wayne Sherri Parker; 13 grandchildren, Chris, Teri, Tricia, Joel, Steve, Laura, Wes, Brian, Ashlie, Jeremy, Shelby, Mike and Nick, 12 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2006 at 11:00 am at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley with Pastor Dale Price officiating. Interment with military honors by George Baldridge Post 43 American Legion will follow at the Hamilton Cemetery.