Judge Crawford Parker, Jr.

Memorial services for Judge Crawford Parker, Jr., 83, of Delray, will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, March 11, 2012 at First Baptist Church in Carthage. Dr. Dale Reed and Rick McPherson will officiate at the memorial service. Services are under the direction of Hawthorn Funeral Home. A memorial marker will be placed at Conner Cemetery in Beckville. Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hawthorn Funeral Home Saturday night. Judge Parker died Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at home. Crawford Duane Parker, Jr was born August 13, 1928 in Beckville. He was one of two children born to Crawford Duane Parker Sr. and Euna Beatrice Ellis Parker. He attended school in Beckville, and then the University of Texas. While he did not serve overseas, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. In 1954, he met and married Elizabeth (Beth) Harris, of Beckville. Parker attended law school at South Texas College of Law, earning a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree in 1958. During those years he supported himself and his young family working as a bricklayer. After graduation Parker, with his wife and two young children, returned to Panola County, where he entered the practice of law. In 1960, he was elected Panola County Attorney, an office he held until 1972 when he declined to run for a fourth term, and elected to enter private practice. He was appointed by the Commissioner’s Court to the newly created County Court at Law and held that position from 1983 until his health forced his retirement in 1996. Throughout his life, Judge Parker was devoted to his family, the practice of law, and the Democratic party. He was a member of the Panola County Bar Association and was a member of the State Bar of Texas for more than fifty years. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Nelwyn Parker Thurman, son Crawford Duane Parker, III, and great grandson William David Stickel. Judge Parker is survived by his devoted wife Beth, children Donna Beth and Ron Singleton, Cara Beth Parker, Elaine and Rick McPherson, Penny Lowrey; grandchildren Maribeth and Chris Stickel, Michael Ayers, Billy Ayers, Crawford (Ford) Duane Parker IV, Sarah Beth Parker, Rachel McPherson, Joel McPherson, Daniel McPherson, Justin Lowrey, Jonathan Lowrey, and Jacob Lowrey; extended family Sharon Thurman Ivey, Erin Ivey Oliver and husband Ben Oliver, Marty and Grace Thurman, Liza and Shane Woodfin, April Thurman, along with many other extended family members. Honorary pallbearers are Warren Biggs, Billy Carter, Gay Lynn Harris, Dr. Wayne Kyle, Walter Parker, Buck Reid, and Panola County Bar Association members. In lieu of flowers, donations in Judge Parker's name may be made to the Conner Cemetery Association, at 3663 US Hwy 79 S, Carthage, TX 75633, or to Heart's Way Hospice in Carthage.

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Judge Crawford Parker, Jr.

August 13, 1928 - March 7, 2012